USOC Registration

The government of China requires United States citizens to obtain a Chinese Visa to enter China. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is required to a submit preliminary entry form, which lists all potential athletes with individual information, to the 2008 Olympic Games Organizing Committee months prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June. This preliminary entry form, along with a digital headshot and electronic copy of your passport will be used to apply for a Chinese Visa. Because of the length of time needed to process China Visas during the Olympic Games, athletes are required to complete a USOC Online Registration Form and USOC Games Forms and submit a digital headshot and an electronic copy of their passport in order to start the visa application process now (at no cost to the athlete).

In order to ensure China Visas and entrance into China, all potential 2008 Olympic Games athletes must complete the required USOC Online Registration Form, USOC Games Forms and submit a digital headshot and an electronic copy of their passport NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 15, 2008. Any athlete who does not complete the Online Registration Form and submit the required Games Forms, digital headshot and electronic copy of their passport, may not be able to obtain a Chinese Visa and, therefore, be unable to enter China for the Olympics.

Below are the three (3) required steps for all potential 2008 Olympic Games athletes due NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 15, 2008.

1. USOC Online Registration

All potential Olympic Games athletes are required to complete a USOC Online Registration Form. You will need your passport information to complete the registration form. Completing these forms does not make you a member of the team.

You must register online at the USOC's website: http://events.usoc.org/BeijingOlympics

Once you have completed the USOC Online Registration Form and have pressed "submit," you will automatically be directed to the Registration Confirmation Page. You will also receive an automatic e-mail notification.

2. USOC Games Forms

All potential Olympic Games athletes are required to complete USOC Games Forms. Please note that both the Registration Confirmation Page and the e-mail notification that you receive will provide you with the Games Forms and information about other required items. Completing these forms does not make you a member of the team.

Please complete, print and sign the required USOC Games Forms; Code of Conduct, Grievance Procedures and General Release. These three USOC Games Forms should be sent to the following address:

USA Track & Field
c/o Carolyn Claude
One RCA Dome, Suite 140
Indianapolis, IN 46225

3. Digital Photo and Copy of Passport

All potential Olympic Games athletes must electronically submit a passport-sized digital photo of themselves and an electronic copy of the front page of their passport. The digital photo must meet the following requirements:

• measure 1.75" x 1.4" (45 mm x 35 mm)
• show the front view of the athlete's head on a white background
• be submitted in JPEG (*.jpg) format (50-500 KB in size)
• be identified by full name and date of birth in the following format for the filename:
  FamilyName_GivenName_PassportNumber.jpg (example: Thomas_Denise_300786453.jpg)

Digital passport photos and copies of passports should be e-mailed to: Carolyn.Claude@usatf.org

Below are examples of valid and non-valid digital photos.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Aron McGuire at Aron.McGuire@usatf.org.