Ronald Reagan

“ In this, the year prior to the 1988 Olympics, it is fitting that we celebrate the coming event throughout the United States with appropriate ceremonies and activities. One such way to recognize this major athletic event is to join together in support of American athletes now in training to represent this great country in Canada and Korea. Thousands of American athletes participate annually in the Olympic movement all over the world. The International Olympic Games are held every 4 years and are the culmination of the skill and prowess resulting from countless hours of work and preparation. ”

“ The United States Olympic Festival is an amateur athletic competition that enables potential Olympians to participate in events identical to those performed in the International Games. During this Festival, skills are refined and a camaraderie is fostered among our athletes that signifies American unity and exemplifies the spirit of the Olympic movement. Some 4,000 athletes, trainers, and coaches, in addition to 7,000 volunteers and more than 300,000 spectators, will participate in the 1987 United States Olympic Festival in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and Greensboro , North Carolina. ”