The U.S. National Soccer Teams are getting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in focus thanks to Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, which manufactures ACUVUE contact lenses. The company is an official sponsor of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), the national governing body for the sport of soccer in the United States and will sponsor the U.S. Men’s National Team, the U.S. Women’s National Team and the U.S. Youth National Teams this year. In addition, it is providing national team members with ACUVUE contacts.

Through the USSF sponsorship, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care will educate athletes and fans about the important role vision plays in sports performance. The outreach also extends beyond sports by showing the benefits of better vision in other aspects of daily life, such as driving, working on a computer or in the classroom.  

U.S. Women’s National Team member Heather O’Reilly (shown to the right in action) will play a leading role in the efforts to educate athletes and other performance-minded individuals by sharing her personal story about the valuable role of vision in life. “I didn’t realize how much my bad eyesight was affecting me on the field, until an eye exam revealed that my vision was less than it should be,” says O’Reilly. “With proper vision correction, I’ve noticed a change in my game. I can actually see the spin of the ball, which helps me anticipate where it’s heading and makes my shots and passes more precise.”

“Good vision is critical to achievement in athletics and life,” notes Gigi Garcia, head athletic trainer for the Women’s National Team. “While training and practice are important to hone and refine skills, it’s not possible to fully apply these skills at a high level without good vision.”     
—Jackie Micucci