Forty-five years after their historic victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics, members of the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. Delta Air Lines transported the team from Minneapolis to the nation’s capital for the ceremony held on December 12.
“The Miracle on Ice is a defining moment in sports history that continues to inspire generations,” said Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer at Delta Air Lines. “At Delta, we’re honored to play a role in celebrating the team’s legacy as they receive the Congressional Gold Medal. Their story reflects the same perseverance and passion that fuel our commitment to Team USA and to connecting people and cultures around the world.”
Congress passed legislation earlier this year to award the medal to the 1980 hockey team for their achievement in defeating the four-time defending Olympic gold medalists from the Soviet Union during a period marked by Cold War tensions. The Congressional Gold Medal is given to individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to American history and culture. Past recipients include Olympic athlete Jessie Owens, baseball player Jackie Robinson, inventor Thomas Edison, and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Delta Air Lines has had a long-standing relationship with both Olympic and Paralympic organizations since sponsoring the Atlanta Games in 1996. The airline also served as Official Airline Sponsor for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games and provided charter flights for those events. In 2020, Delta announced an extended partnership as Official Airline of Team USA through upcoming Olympics including Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, and LA28.
Aircraft featuring custom Team USA liveries are currently part of Delta’s fleet and can be seen operating both within its U.S. hubs and on international routes.
Delta Air Lines supports its global operations with a diverse fleet from manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing (official website). The company connects over 350 destinations worldwide (official website) through an extensive network that includes scheduled passenger and cargo transport (official website). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (official website), Delta was founded in 1925 as Huff Daland Dusters before transitioning into commercial aviation with scheduled flights beginning in 1929 (official website). Today, it operates as a publicly traded corporation incorporated in Delaware under U.S. law (official website).
The airline emphasizes shared values such as excellence and connecting people across cultures through reliable air travel (official website). To learn more about Delta’s partnership with Team USA, additional information is available online.
