(LONG BEACH, CA--7 September 2021) USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in the US, and Zwift, the online global fitness platform, announced a new partnership to increase access and inclusion in cycling.
Zwift has come on board as a financial supporter for the upcoming virtual series of USA Cycling Inclusion Conversations, beginning Sept 10th.
In addition, Zwift and USA Cycling will also be joining forces to create a new scholarship for underrepresented cyclists. The new program will offer a full-tuition scholarship for one underrepresented athlete to allow them to join the USAC Olympic Development Academy (ODA) program in 2022.
“We are so grateful to Zwift for their multifaceted support of our growing DEI programs and efforts,” remarked Kelsey Erickson, Executive Director of Athlete Health & Wellness at USA Cycling. “The only way we can truly change the culture of cycling is by engaging the entire industry and collectively committing to working together to realize a new future for the sport. To have Zwift engaged with the Conference - now a series of Conversations - and also with the ODA is an exciting and impactful way to move the sport forward towards a more inclusive future.”
“USA Cycling is providing a platform for new voices to educate, energize, and engage around a longstanding issue in cycling,“ says Eric Min, Co-founder and CEO of Zwift. “These values are core to Zwift and we will do whatever we can to amplify them and the message they carry.”
“We recognize the value of coming together to create a more welcoming, more accepting sport,” says Lisa Bourne, Zwift’s Senior Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Impact. “But we also must marry that with action, which is why we wanted to bring the lessons from the Zwift Academy talent ID program to bear for those who may never have gotten the opportunity to start their Olympic cycling journey.”
To join the virtual Inclusion Conversations, click here.
To find out more about the ODA, click here.
Zwift is the fitness company born from gaming. We’re dedicated fitness enthusiasts, experienced video game developers, and disruptive thinkers. Play is in our DNA and we know fun fuels results.
Zwift utilizes massively multiplayer online gaming technology to create rich, 3D worlds ripe for exploration. Join thousands of cyclists and runners in immersive playgrounds like London, New York, and Paris as well as our very own Watopia.
Our app connects wirelessly to exercise equipment: bike trainers, treadmills, and more, so your real world effort powers your avatar in the game.
From friendly races to social rides and structured training programs, Zwift unites a diverse community in pursuit of a more fun, immersive and social fitness experience.
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX. USA Cycling’s mission is to champion accessibility, participation, and excellence in the sport of cycling to make more Americans healthier, happier, and better on two wheels while achieving sustained international racing success. USA Cycling supports cyclists at all levels, from those just beginning in the sport and participating in fun rides to international caliber racers. The organization identifies, develops, and selects cyclists to represent the United States in international competition through the support of kids’ and interscholastic programs, amateur bike racing and grassroots development programs, and the provision of critical infrastructure to run organized racing. USA Cycling has a membership of 100,000, annually sanctions over 2,500 events, and is a proud member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
