F.L.A.M.E. focuses on educating and exposing minority student leaders to the Olympic movement and its ideals through interaction with Olympic athletes and coaches, USOC administrators and professionals, who teach the minority student leaders the importance of realizing and maximizing their knowledge, skills and abilities, and show them that they can reach their goals by adhering to the Olympic ideals of persistence, vision, focus, discipline and commitment.

Participants are selected for the program in part based upon their academic achievements, leadership skills and involvement in their communities. Most participants are selected from USOC community-based organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Native American Sports Council and USOC sponsor corporations. Once the minority student leaders complete the F.L.A.M.E. program, they can take their motivation tactics, goal-setting skills and communication skills back to their community organizations and schools. F.L.A.M.E. participants also receive career guidance and education college preparation, including how to study for college entrance exams and how to apply for USOC or sponsor organization internship programs.

F.L.A.M.E. 2004, to be held July 7-11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., is sure to be outstanding as America's athletes will be at the U.S. Olympic Complex in full force preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games. If you are a minority student between the ages of 13 to 18, that demonstrates strong academic and community involvement, or know someone who should apply, download the application today.

The USOC F.L.A.M.E. program is made possible through the generous support of monster.com, ChevronTexaco, Xerox, Visa USA and John Hancock. And these companies see the benefit of investing in tomorrow's leaders. "The Olympic Games and programs such as F.L.A.M.E. provide the people of the world with the inspiration to achieve their personal dreams in sport and in life," says Visa USA's Michael Lynch, vice president of Event & Sponsorship Marketing. Learn more about F.L.A.M.E.'s sponsors and why these companies support the program.