Just as it did for the 2012 and 2014 Winter Games, Topps will return with a trading card product for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as part of its partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee. The product has already retained its gold medal for longest product name. Set for release July 8, 2016 Topps U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Hopefuls will feature the strongest candidates to make the team and honor some past U.S. Olympic gold medalists, too.
Hobby boxes will contain 24 packs with eight cards per pack. Topps is promising one autograph, one relic card and one commemorative relic card per box. Retail pricing should be in the neighborhood of $60-65 per box. It’s likely there will also be a smaller, blaster box version of the product.
Base Autographs for 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Hopefuls will feature up to 40 U.S. Olympic team hopefuls. There will be sequentially numbered parallels including Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Rainbow (all 1/1).
There will also be autographed relic cards of 2016 Olympic team 
candidates (20 in all) with each including an athlete autograph and swatch of competition-used memorabilia.
There will also be Red, Gold and Gold Rainbow parallels.
Ten former U.S. Olympic champions will have autographs in the hobby version of the product with Red, Gold and Rainbow 1/1 parallels in the mix.
Topps has also purchased autographs to use on cut signature cards from past Olympic legends and all will be 1/1 and hobby exclusive.
Relic cards will feature up to 50 candidates for Team USA with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Rainbow 1/1 parallels.
Commemorative relics include:
United States Olympic Team Patches: Highlighting up to 25 U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls with a commemorative patch of the official U.S. Olympic Team Logo. The program will include base versions and low numbered parallel cards of Red and Gold.
USA Flag Patches: Highlighting up to 25 athletes with a commemorative patch of the American flag, also base versions and low numbered parallel cards of Red and Gold.
USA Olympic Team Crest Patches: Up to 25 different subjects with a Team USA logo patch. Program will include base versions and low numbered Red and Gold parallels.
Commemorative Olympic Medals – Featuring medals designed by Topps to
celebrate the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. There will be three plated versions of the medal in Bronze, Silver and Gold. Collect base versions and low numbered parallels of Blue and Red are among the random inserts.
Insert Sets will include:
Olympic Disciplines: Each card represents a U.S. Olympic athlete and the discipline in which they’ll complete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, as well as how the event is played. (Inserted 1:4 packs).
Memorable Moments: A chronicle of the greatest Olympic moments in U.S. history. (Inserted 1:8 packs).
Closing Ceremonies: A chronicle of the past Olympic Games, providing an overview of which countries won the most medals, including overall, gold, silver and bronze. (Inserted 1:24 packs).
There will be a 100 card base set of the most well-known and rising U.S. Olympic Team athletes looking to compete in Rio de Janeiro. Look for Bronze (1 per pack), Silver (1 in every 2 packs), Gold (1 in every 3 packs) and Gold Rainbow (1/1) parallels.
Related Stories:
Chuck Daly’s Dream Team and NBA Memorabilia Coming to Auction
Lelands Opens Olympic Division
Latest Edition of Long Beach Expo Returns This Week
Korbut: I Didn’t Sell Medals for the Money
Notes: Card Thief Sentenced; Rose Collector on TV; Doncic China Jersey; Rare Olympic Torch; More
1955 Dodgers World Series Ring Fetches Top Price At RR Auction Sale
Barnyard Game: 1936 Olympic Basketballer’s Medal at Auction
Bill Buckner’s 1986 World Series Glove, Cleats at Auction
First 2012 Summer Olympics Medal at Auction
Magic Johnson Dream Team Gamer Expected to Bring Big Price
