The 2024 Paris Olympics are approaching, and fans are coming together to cheer on their favorite athletes and teams. With a recent surge in the relationship between gaming and sports today, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and NBCUniversal invite sports fans and supporters of Team USA to join together in an immersive world on Roblox, with first-ever custom experiences built just for them.
Featuring 20 athletes, video highlights of competitions, and special digital items with athletes sharing in on their sales’ proceeds, the experience, titled “The Team USA Ultimate Obby” in honor of its obstacle course main attraction, is a first-ever opportunity for Olympic and Paralympic fans to come together and feel part of this global celebration of sports.
“It took so much hard work, dedication, and sacrifice to get myself to the Olympics, so seeing myself represented as a Roblox avatar and so many other Team USA athletes is so exciting,” says Tara Davis-Woodhall, an American track and field athlete. “I hope that young women will meet my Roblox avatar and be inspired to follow their own dreams, like winning gold one day or becoming an official Roblox avatar themselves.”
“Roblox is a place where the world’s biggest cultural moments can come to life for people everywhere to enjoy together in an immersive environment,” says Lisa Willett, Senior Director of Brand Partnerships at Roblox. “Team USA and NBCUniversal’s experience is also a way to celebrate U.S. athletes, build fandom and get people engaged in all aspects of the Olympics and Paralympics.”
This experience allows fans to participate even if they can’t travel to Paris. They can leave notes for the athletes or create their sports broadcasts. “Immersive places like Roblox are another great way to keep people of all ages excited by sports and athleticism, especially as we see more young women dropping out of sports or losing interest as they get older,” Davis-Woodhall says.
The experience is available before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 and can be accessed at the following link: TeamUSA.com/Roblox or NBCOlympics.com/Roblox. The Roblox community and Team USA fans will find endless ways to engage with Team USA before, during and after the games.
“It’s exciting for me to see the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee coming to Roblox to create and be a part of these engaging experiences to keep new generations interested in sports while prioritizing a diverse representation of athletes,” Davis-Woodhall says. “I hope we continue to see this investment, especially in women’s sports across the gaming world.”
About the Author: Kenyatta Victoria is the lead writer for Essence GU, working on all things pop culture, politics, entertainment and business. Throughout her time at GU, she’s garnered devoted readers and specializes in the Zillennial point of view.