USOPC Brand Guidelines » Creative Services » UF Health

UF Health and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, or USOPC, Brand Guidelines and Logo Usage

Please visit HumanProgress.UFHealth.org to learn about the sponsorship and see examples of already approved language on various brand campaign assets.
Please do not embed videos from the HumanProgress.UFHealth.org site on any other web pages without first requesting permission from marketreq@shands.ufl.edu.

Permitted logo usage

The use of the UF Health logos included in these guidelines in tandem with the USOPC Medical Network primary mark is permitted after gaining approval for each desired use from UF Health Communications and the USOPC. Any logo not explicitly shown in these guidelines is not permitted to be used with the USOPC Medical Network mark. All uses of the USOPC Medical Network marks – with the exception of approved service line logo lock-ups – must appear secondary, and not primary, in nature, such that all mark appearances must be less prominent than references to the UF Health logo.

Separation from UF Health Logo: In general, the USOPC Medical Network marks and the UF Health logo should be treated as distinct elements. While they can coexist in the same creative piece, they should never – with few exceptions – intersect, overlap, or sit directly next to each other without appropriate spacing to avoid confusing the hierarchy or representation. This distinction is crucial in preserving the autonomy and significance of both the UF Health logo and the USOPC Medical Network mark. Exceptions include approved service line logo lock-ups and primary brand logo-lock-ups for use on outdoor boards and other space-limited assets, which must be approved by UF Health marketing and the USOPC.

USOPC marks cannot be broken into elements. The entire logo must be used.

USOPC Medical Network marks licensed for use with UF Health Communications & Marketing

All UF Health graphic designers have access to these marks. If you need the USOP Medical Network mark files, please email marketreq@shands.ufl.edu and include a description of how you plan to use the mark.

Use of the USOPC Medical Network mark with the primary UF Health logo

UF Health exists first and foremost as a brand signature and reflects the University of Florida’s academic health center, which comprises six health colleges, 10 research centers & institutes, 11 hospitals across four regions, a network of physician practices, and other clinical programs and services.

Regional brands

Regional brands each represent all organizations within a given region, including hospital services, hospital medical staff, outpatient services and employed providers and practices. Four patient care campuses currently comprise the UF Health system. Although most of our efforts will feature the primary UF Health mark, regional marks may be used in conjunction with the USOPC Medical Network mark. These include UF Health in Gainesville, which uses the primary brand identity, and UF Health Central Florida, UF Health Jacksonville, and UF Health St. Johns.

Approved logo set-up examples

Logo usage not permitted

The USOPC has granted us permission to only use the Medical Network mark in association with UF Health marks, as outlined above. They may not be used with an established affiliate’s logo when the UF Health logo appears in association with another organization, such as Halifax Health or CareSpot. It is also not allowed to be used when promoting an affiliated service that is not directly owned and/or managed by UF Health but is branded as UF Health.

With few exceptions, the USOPC Medical Network mark may not be used with a service line logo, location logo or with ads specific to a service or a location
The USOPC Medical Network mark shall not be used in any domain names registered or used by UF Health
UF Health shall avoid using a USOPC Medical Network mark in connection with any other third-party organization
The medical network marks cannot be used for commercial purposes, i.e., any solicitation of money, including donations

Approved mark usage, with approval of the USOPC

Company website
Approved service line logo lock-ups
Environmental (signage on buildings, offices, conference rooms), thought no co-branded with a third-party organization.
Promotional items (for internal use only, not for sale)
Uniforms (apparel, scrubs)

Approved assets

These assets have been reviewed and approved for use.

UF Health is permitted to use the USOPC Medical Network mark on its owned, operated, and branded sites and social handles, or other digital platforms, subject to the understanding that all such uses will be subject to the same approval process for all other uses of the USOPC Medical Network mark.

Alterations and enhancements to UF Health logos and the USOPC Medical Network mark are not permitted. The USOPC Medical Network primary mark can be used when adequate spacing allows the text to remain fully legible. No element of the mark may be pulled out to stand alone as its own, nor used as a graphic image or on any other background.

The primary Medical Network mark is offered in stacked and horizontal formats. Both formats are provided in full color, as well as two-color for dark backgrounds, all black, and reversed-out white.

For the highest visual impact of the USOPC Medical Network mark, a minimum clear area must be maintained. Please see the graphic below for clear space reference and minimum size requirements.

Spacing and minimum sizes for USOPC logos

In most cases, the UF Health logo appears with the logotype, descriptor and bridge. When applying it in cases where it will be reproduced in a small format (embroidery, product branding, etc.), the University of Florida descriptor can be dropped, since it would be illegible anyway. Bear in mind that the logo must not be sized less smaller than 1 inch, even without the descriptor.

In all cases, give the UF Health logo its clear space. The distance between it and any other object, photo or copy should equal the width of the “F” proportionately on all sides.

Prior to use, please reference UF Heath identity standards.

Marks usages approved on a case-by-case basis in:

Press releases
Social media
Athlete appearances
Earned media/editorial media coverage
Paid media (media buys defined by territory)
Editorial on company channels (Note: we have the right to create content on UF Health channels about our relationship with an athlete as an individual or elite athlete. Per the USOPC contract, we CANNOT use the term Olympic or Paralympic and it SHOULD NOT feel like an advertisement or endorsement of services. All editorial content ideas need to be pre-approved by the USOPC and the UF Health marketing team. Please read more in the editorial content section.)

Examples

Polo: Company logo on chest, approved mark on sleeve or back

Billboard: Primary UF Health/USOPC logo lock-up

UF Health billboard that says "He was given 18 months to live. That was 4 years ago," along with an image of a man taking photos

Print ad

Important things to know:

Items in this catalog have been preapproved and do not need further approval from the UF Health Communications team or the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Items shown in this catalog are available for bulk purchases, meaning you must meet the minimum quantity listed for the item to order.
Items that are screen printed are available with one of the following 4 logos:
- UF Health
- UF Health Central Florida
- UF Health Jacksonville
- UF Health St. Johns
Items that are embroidered will only have the option to have the master UF Health logo with no descriptor, to meet quality standards.
Direct requests to marketreq@shands.ufl.edu to order items from Staples that are not included in this catalog.
Staples is the only approved vendor to order items from with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Medical Network logo.

Ordering from the catalog

To order items in this catalog, email your request to: OlympicSPO@Staples.com. Please include:
- Your name
- Title
- Campus (I.e., UF Health Shands, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health Central Florida, UF Health St. Johns, or UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, etc.)
While promotional items may be ordered from this catalog with the intent to give away free of charge to the public, for example in a “giveaway” promotion, no products with the USOP MN mark can be sold to the public.

Use of trademarked imagery & phrases

Trademarked imagery

Many instances of Olympic imagery are trademarked by other Olympic entities, and, therefore are not allowed to be used in materials unless we purchase the licensing rights to use the imagery/footage. Examples may include a photo of an athlete displaying their medal, or athletes standing on the podium or participating in games. Licensing rights are strict and we are legally bound to adhere to them.

Use of the standalone rings, torch, cauldron, standalone flags, Olympic Games mascots and other Olympic symbols ― even in the background ― are not permitted. This would also include photos of athletes with the rings visible on their tattoos.

UF Health may use generic medal imagery as a design element in advertising (e.g., create a medal design) provided the appropriate mark is used to convey the sponsor’s association with Team USA.

If imagery or footage was previously licensed for a project for UF Health, that may not give us the rights to use it in any other material, as the license may only be valid for the particular project for which it was requested. This includes redistribution on other channels, such as social media, our website, etc. If you encounter material that another group has used, please contact UF Health Communications to inquire about the possibility of using that imagery for other purposes.

Anyone who would like to explore purchasing the rights to use an image or video clip should contact UF Health Communications at marketreq@shands.ufl.edu.

Style guidelines

When drafting copy for any audience or medium, communicators should refer to the style guidelines outlined below. All copy, including mentions of the USOPC sponsorship, must be reviewed and approved by UF Health Communications and the USOPC team.

Approved Designation: “U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Center”

Examples:

UF Health is a proud U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Center or UF Health is a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Medical Network.
UF Health is proud to be a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Medical Network.
UF Health is a Proud National Medical Center in the USOP Medical Network.
UF Health is a Proud National Medical Center for Team USA.

Do not use “National Medical Network;” UF Health is a National Medical Center in the USOP Medical Network.

UF Health is permitted, with approval from UF Health Communications and the USOPC, to use “Team USA” in copy when describing our work with athletes.

When using imagery in material (online or printed) the use of Olympic or IPC Marks and trademarked terms such as “Olympic” or “Paralympic” or trademarked imagery such as the rings are not permitted as they belong to the IOC and IPC. The USOPC cannot license these on a stand-alone basis.

Ways we can and cannot refer to the Olympic games and athletes:

Phrases and terms allowed to be used:

World stage
This Winter
Milan-Cortina
2026
Elite athlete
World-class athlete
Team USA (when referring to athletes)
Examples:
- In 2020
- In Tokyo
- Training for this winter in Milan-Cortina…
- Gearing up for the world stage this winter…
Athletes can refer to themselves as an Olympian or a Paralympian (if they are one).
UF Health can refer to these athletes as Olympians or Paralympians. This is the only exception to using the “Olympic” or “Paralympic” term outside of our title as a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Center.

Phrases and terms that are NOT allowed to be used:

Olympics
Paralympics
The games, games
Olympic Games
Paralympic Games
Winter Games
Games in Milan-Cortina
Olympic Games Milan-Cortina 2026

Team USA: Capitalize both Team and USA; no periods in USA. Team USA

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: On first reference in copy, use United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee or U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. For subsequent references, use USOPC. Note the use of the ampersand instead of “and.” USOPC should be used in email subject lines and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in press release headlines. See also USOPC entry in the “Terms” section below.

U.S.: The abbreviation is acceptable as a noun or adjective for United States. Always use periods with the abbreviation. U.S. is preferable to USA.

Editorial content

If an article or feature focuses on the UF Health and USOPC relationship or promotes specific products or services, the concept/idea must be submitted for advance USOPC and UF Health marketing review and approval to ensure accuracy and compliance with product categories and other contractual terms. If you have a question about whether an item is editorial, please contact UF Health Communications at marketreq@shands.ufl.edu so we can understand the publication and how the content was created.

We will work with the USOPC to determine which items and Olympic- and Paralympic-related content must be submitted. We will strive to help you meet your publication deadlines and request a five-business-day lead time in addition to the standard UF Health review and approval process and timeline.

Please note that this guideline applies to content about athletes as well as to general content.

Communicators can refer to established guidelines in this document, the UF Health Marketing Style Guide, and the AP Style Guide when writing content.

USOPC brands

USOPC brands include:

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site
Olympic & Paralympic Day, presented by Toyota
United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Crawford Family U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Archives
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation

Injuries

Temporary injuries or wounds are suffered, not sustained or received. When describing permanent disabilities or illnesses, avoid descriptions that connote pity, such as “afflicted with” or “suffers from” multiple sclerosis. Instead, say “has multiple sclerosis.”

Athlete references

If you wish to use an athlete in any material, please contact UF Health Communications: marketreq@shands.ufl.edu.

The USOPC does not own the rights to any athlete’s name or likeness; therefore, the USOPC does not have the ability to license specific use of an athlete’s likeness to its sponsors. In all cases where an athlete appears, or their name or likeness is used for commercial purposes, it is UF Health’s responsibility to secure usage rights, approvals, provide compensation, etc.

The USOPC maintains a database of U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and Hopefuls, and will assist UF Health Communications in identifying and developing a relationship with those athletes who will best represent our objectives, while working within budget requirements.

Paralympic athletes should only appear in Flag 3-Agitos or Team USA apparel and materials; Paralympic athletes must have either the Flag 3-Agitos or Team USA logo.
All athletes can appear in non-branded clothing as well.
Models cannot be used to represent Team USA athletes – those featured must be actual Hopefuls, unless approved by the USOPC. Again, USOPC is pleased to assist in identifying and securing athletes.
Stock imagery of athletes can be used as long as it does not falsely represent the athlete as an Olympian, Paralympian, or Hopeful.

References to athletes should remain factual in nature. UF Health is responsible for ensuring the athlete is referenced appropriately in all communications.

The following terminology standards apply to athletes specifically:

Once an athlete is an Olympian/Paralympian, they are always an Olympian/Paralympian; never a ‘former’ or ‘past’ Olympian/Paralympian.
An athlete is not officially named to the team until Team USA submits the official list to the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, or OCOG. Prior to that, if an athlete qualifies through trials, sponsors may say that an athlete has qualified for Team USA.
An athlete is an U.S. Olympic or Paralympic Hopeful until they are named to the Team officially by the USOPC (e.g., even if the athlete is an Olympian, if they are being promoted in conjunction with the 2026 Games, they are considered a 2026 U.S. Hopeful.)

Appropriate terminology to use:

Recommended Option: U.S. Olympic Team Hopeful for this winter in Milan-Cortina

Use of an Athlete and Corporate Identification

When using an athlete for an appearance or an image of an athlete is used in advertising/promotion, it is especially important to pay particular attention to any corporate identification that may appear on the athlete, their image, or in the background (e.g., logos on apparel, shoes, racing bibs, equipment, signage, etc.). To protect each partner’s exclusive category, there may not be any corporate branding visible in an image, on an athlete, etc., unless it is that of an Official USOPC Sponsor.

If you wish to work to develop promotional material featuring an athlete, please work with UF Health Communications to ensure alignment with USOPC and UF Health brand standards and that all necessary approvals are obtained: marketreq@shands.ufl.edu.

Games References