Philadelphia chosen to host 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 10, 2006 – USA Gymnastics has awarded the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics to Philadelphia, which will hold the event at the Wachovia Center, June 19-22. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show will be staged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics.

“The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics is going to be a tremendous showcase for the Olympic movement prior to the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “We are proud to partner with Philadelphia and the Wachovia Center to bring this prestigious event to the City of Brotherly Love. We know the enthusiasm of the people, the renewed vibrancy of the city, and the deep spirit of patriotism will be a perfect backdrop for the selection of our U.S. team. Philadelphia has proven to be a strong supporter of gymnastics events in the past, and we are confident this will be a successful event.”

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for all sports is a collaborative, three-way partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee, the National Governing Bodies and the Local Organizing Committees.

“The USOC is committed to working in partnership with USA Gymnastics and the city of Philadelphia to provide a world-class Olympic Trials event that will be the next step towards our common goal of competitive excellence in Beijing," said Steve Roush, the USOC's Chief of Sport Performance.

Premier gymnastics is not new to Philadelphia. Most recently, the city has hosted the 2001 U.S. Gymnastics Championships and the 2006 Tyson American Cup, as well as stops on the 2003-04 T.J. Maxx Tour of Gymnastics Champions.

The Wachovia Center, one of the nation's most premier facilities, has already hosted the l996 World Cup of Hockey, the l997 Stanley Cup Finals, the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, l999 American Hockey League All-Star Game, the 2000 NCAA Women's Final Four, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the 2001 NBA Finals, the 2001 NCAA Men's East Regionals, the 2002 X Games, the 2002 NBA All-Star Game and the 2006 NCAA Men's First and Second Round Games, as well as will host the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Past venues for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics are: 2004, Anaheim, Calif.; 1996 and 2000, Boston; and 1992, Baltimore, Md.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more complete information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.