SAN JOSE, CALIF., TO HOST 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS - GYMNASTICS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., June 14, 2010 - USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee have awarded the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics for men's and women's artistic gymnastics to San Jose, Calif. The event will be conducted at HP Pavilion at San Jose, June 28-July 1. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show will be staged at the San Jose Convention Center in conjunction with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics.
"San Jose has presented a fantastic plan for hosting the 2012 Olympic Trials," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "Over the years, the Bay Area and San Jose in particular have been outstanding hosts to USA Gymnastics. We are confident this will be one of the best Olympic Trials ever conducted for any sport. All of the partners connected to this effort are committed to producing a memorable event and one that showcases our country's top athletes at the highest level."
"This is an amazing honor for the citizens of San Jose," said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. "We are grateful for the trust USA Gymnastics has placed in our city for such a prestigious event. The Olympic Trials for gymnastics is among the crown jewels of events to host, and the celebration of selecting our Olympic Team will be one that is embraced by the entire community."
Premier gymnastics and the Olympic Movement are not new to San Jose. Most recently, the city hosted the 2007 Visa Championships, the 2008 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, 2009 U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic Championships, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline, and post-Olympic gymnastics tour stops. In addition, the U.S. Olympic Committee processed the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in San Jose before heading to Beijing. San Jose also played host to the 2003 Titan Games, produced in partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee.
"San Jose has been a terrific partner for the U.S. Olympic Movement over the years," said Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "They have continually supported the many activities of the U.S. Olympic Committee and our Olympic Teams, and they are most deserving of the privilege to host the Olympic Trials for gymnastics."
The bid effort, headed by the San Jose Sports Authority and HP Pavilion, included commitments from the City of San Jose, San Jose Hotels, Inc., and Team San Jose.
"Team San Jose's partnership with the Sports Authority and great venues like HP Pavilion is a big part of the reason why San Jose has become a premier sports center for Northern California -a great place for taking in games and mega events like the USA Gymnastics," said Dan Fenton, CEO of Team San Jose, which operates the convention center and several theaters. "Between the trials at HP Pavilion and our hosting the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show, San Jose will again be represented as a great host and have the spotlight on us as a great sporting destination.
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.
Past venues for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics include: 2008, Philadelphia, Pa.; 2004, Anaheim, Calif.; 1996 and 2000, Boston; and 1992, Baltimore, Md.
For more information, go to www.sanjose2012.com.
About HP Pavilion
HP Pavilion at San Jose hosts nearly 100 sporting events annually including more than 40 San Jose Sharks regular season home games, SAP Open men's professional tennis, and Strikeforce mixed martial arts. The building hosts approximately 170 events every year -- including Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners and a variety of family and children's favorites that account for more than 200 event days. Pollstar, the leading concert industry trade magazine, nominated HP Pavilion at San Jose as "Arena of the Year" for 2005 and 2007. In 2007, Pollstar also recognized HP Pavilion at San Jose based on non-sports attendance as fourth in North America, top 10 in the world. Over the past 10 years, HP Pavilion at San Jose has consistently been in the Top 5 in North America and top 10 in the world.
About the San Jose Sports Authority
The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.
About the City of San Jose
From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world's leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the United States, is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov.
About Team San Jose (TSJ)
Team San Jose, Inc. is a management company for the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. Team San Jose is a unique customer service model where the company acts as the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau and works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts and business leaders to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. For more information about Team San Jose, please visit our website at www.sanjose.org.
About San Jose Hotels Inc. (SJHI)
San Jose Hotels Inc., is a hotels-led, non-profit business improvement district representing 35 San Jose-based hotels. SJHI leverages destination investment focused on event sponsorship, marketing and public relations to attract conventions, events and meetings to San Jose through a unique partnership with Team San Jose.
About USA Gymnastics
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, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics. For more complete information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
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