UAW-GM, THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM, PRESENTS 100 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM HOPEFULS WITH NEW VEHICLES; ELEVEN WRESTLERS RECEIVE NEW CARS AS PART OF PROGRAM 
 U.S. OLYMPIC HOPEFULS FROM 28 SPORTS SELECTED BY GRANT HILL, DOROTHY HAMILL AND A PANEL OF OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS 
 General Motors, exclusive domestic automotive sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2008, today in cooperation with the International Union, UAW announced the names of 100 U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls who will receive new GM vehicles, as part of The Team Behind the Team program. The announcement highlights the $3.5 million vehicle donation aspect of The Team Behind the Team program, which demonstrates the unique partnership formed to support U.S. athletes long before they reach the Olympic Games.  
 This joint innovative program was developed to address the challenges that face U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls as they travel to training and competitive events while continuing to support their families.  
 Of the 100 athletes who received GM automobiles, 11 were wrestlers, which included six freestyle wrestlers and five Greco-Roman wrestlers. 
 The freestyle wrestlers included in the program are Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids), Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa, Gateway WC), Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa, Hawkeye WC), Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army), Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunkist Kids) and Airron Richardson (Cleveland, Ohio, Team Excel) 
 The Greco-Roman wrestlers included in the program are Shawn Sheldon (Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC), Dennis Hall (Plover, Wis., Sunkist Kids), Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids), Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC) and Jason Klohs (Maple Grove, Minn., Minnesota Storm). 
 This is a talented group of athletes, who have already compiled an impressive set of achievements. Hall was a 1996 Olympic silver medalist, while Sheldon was a member of the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic teams. 
 Hall also won a World title in 1995 and a World bronze medal in 1994. Sheldon has won a World silver medal, while McIlravy boasts a World silver and World bronze medal. Eight of the athletes have represented the USA at the World Championships: Guerrero, McIlravy, Williams, Black, Sheldon, Hall, Bracken and Klohs. 
 "The International Union, UAW is proud to join with General Motors in The Team Behind The Team program. Supporting our U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls is a good example of how the UAW and GM reach out to people in communities across America," said Richard Shoemaker, UAW Vice President and Director of the UAW-GM Department." We are proud to help these athletes and their families achieve their dreams by providing them with world class vehicles made by The Team Behind the Team -- UAW members and General Motors."  
 "General Motors' long-term commitment to the U.S. Olympic Team offers us an excellent opportunity to expand and continue our partnership activities with the UAW," said Gary L. Cowger, GM Group Vice President, Labor Relations. "Through this partnership, we are pleased to support America's future Olympians by donating our vehicles -- the pride of all GM employees."  
 An Athlete Advisory Panel assembled by the UAW and GM chose the 100 hopefuls from 1,800 applicants. Selection was based on financial need, training and competition requirements, and  qualification of 'hopeful' status. The panel is co-chaired by Olympic Gold Medallists Grant Hill and Dorothy Hamill, and made up of track and field stars Evelyn Ashford, Carl Lewis, and Bob Mathias, swimmer Pablo Morales, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. In addition to reviewing the applications and selecting the 100 vehicle recipients, the Athlete Advisory Panel offered invaluable insight into the needs and challenges faced by U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls.  
 GM has designated eight vehicles as Gold Medal Brands and aligned each one of them with a National Governing Body (NGB) of sport. The 100 U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls and their  families will receive the vehicle that is supporting their respective NGB. The eight vehicles are:  Cadillac Deville, GMC Envoy, Oldsmobile Alero, Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac Montana Minivan, Buick Regal and Saturn. U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls not affiliated with a sport supported by one of the eight vehicles will receive any one of the Gold Medal Brands. Famed fashion designer Joseph Abboud will detail each of The Team Behind the Team vehicles with a commemorative Olympic Edition package, available only to hopeful families participating in the program.  
  "As the domestic automotive sponsor of the U.S Olympic Team we are very pleased that The Team Behind the Team offers GM a platform to raise awareness of the eight Gold Medal Brands  associated with the program while we support America's athletes - it's a win-win for the athletes and the company," said Phil Guarascio, GM's vice president for Advertising and Corporate Marketing. "GM's integrated approach to its Olympic sponsorship represents a strategic and innovative alignment, providing unprecedented business and marketing opportunities."  
 "On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, I would like to express our appreciation to General Motors, and its partner, the United Automobile Workers, for their continued support of America's Team," said USOC Deputy Executive Director, Marketing Dave Ogrean. "This  innovative program provides an invaluable layer of support to America's Olympic hopefuls and their families as they pursue the dream of competing in the Olympic Games."  
 The UAW and GM secured the expertise of JK Group Inc., a company that manages corporate philanthropic programs, to help implement The Team Behind the Team program. JK Group, in cooperation with GM and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), developed the overall process, defined the criteria, established a screening process, and identified candidates for review  by the Athlete Advisory Panel.  
 The UAW and GM have made a significant commitment to the Olympic Movement through its support of U.S. Olympic Teams, 37 NGBs, the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, and NBC Olympic broadcasts through 2008. The Team Behind the Team program is part of GM's 10-year official sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Team.  
 FREESTYLE WRESTLERS 
 Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids - No. 2 at 127.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, Gateway WC - No. 1 at 152 pounds/Pontiac Montana 
 Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Hawkeye WC - No. 1 at 167.5 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army - No. 1 at 213.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunkist Kids - No. 2 at 286 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Airron Richardson, Shaker Heights, Ohio, Team Excel - No. 4 at 286 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLERS 
 Shawn Sheldon, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC - No. 3 at 119 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Dennis Hall, Plover, Wis., Sunkist Kids - No. 1 at 127.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids - No. 2 at 127.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC - No. 3 at 138.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 Jason Klohs, Maple Grove, Minn., Minnesota Storm - No. 1 at 213.75 pounds/Pontiac Grand Am 
 For a copy of the GM press release, and a list of all 100 automobile recipients, visit the GM web page at: http://www.gm.com/mo_pr/mo_pr_dt.htm?id=1095