USOC looking to Facebook in fundraising effort

Published Jun. 2, 2011 1:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The U.S. Olympic Committee's summertime fundraising effort will have an increased emphasis on social networking.

The USOC's ''Join Team USA'' program runs from June 14 through July 31.

In addition to holding Olympic Day celebrations across the country and bringing athletes to pro sports events to spend time with fans, the USOC will host live chats on Facebook and make links to the various sports more easily available on the site.

The USOC had more than 840,000 Facebook friends at the start of June.

About 80 percent of the USOC's operating budget goes to athlete support programs, including direct support, health insurance and bonus money that goes to athletes who finish on the podium at key events.