In an unconventional move blending sports and celebrity culture, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has announced the appointment of legendary rapper Snoop Dogg as honorary coach for Team USA at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. The 54-year-old music icon will assume a volunteer position focused on athlete support and morale boosting during the Milan-Cortina Games scheduled for February 6-22.
The appointment marks a continuation of Snoop Dogg’s growing involvement with Olympic programming. During last year’s Paris Summer Games, the artist served as a special correspondent for NBC’s coverage and performed at the handover ceremony for Los Angeles 2028. His new role will leverage his distinctive humor and motivational approach to support American athletes from the sidelines.
USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland emphasized the rapper’s genuine passion for the Olympic movement, describing his enthusiasm as ‘contagious’ and highlighting the unique perspective he brings to athlete support. The organization believes Snoop’s involvement will create additional excitement around the Winter Games while providing athletes with unconventional mentorship.
The artist, born Calvin Broadus Jr., brings legitimate sports credentials to his new position. Beyond his music career, Snoop established the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005, providing inner-city youth access to American football programs across the country. His appointment follows a pattern of celebrity involvement in Olympic teams, including Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav recently sponsoring the US bobsleigh team.
Snoop Dogg characterized the honor humbly, stating: ‘Team USA athletes are the real stars – I’m just here to cheer, uplift and maybe drop a little wisdom from the sidelines.’ He added that representing ‘the best of what sport can be: talent, heart and hustle’ made the opportunity particularly meaningful.