INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 1, 2008 – Fans get a glimpse of the media attention surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in the newest episode of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team,” the online series available only on the AT&T blue room Team USA site (www.attblueroom.com/teamusa). With less than four months until the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, fifteen of the USA’s top gymnasts traveled to Chicago along with approximately 100 other U.S. Olympic hopefuls for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit.
In one day, the athletes went through a round of photo shoots and television, online and print interviews with roughly 450 national and world media representatives for stories and coverage to run in advance of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Thirteen gymnasts attended the first day of the Media Summit. Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo.; Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis.; Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis, Ind.; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass.; Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind.; Shayla Worley of Orlando, Fla.; David Durante of Garwood, N.J.; Jonathan Horton of Houston; and Justin Spring of Burke, Va., had time during their busy Media Summit schedule to talk about the day, the experiences and what it means to attend. Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa; Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas; Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis.; and Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., were also on hand with a very full day of media obligations. Alexander Artemev of Lakewood, Colo., and Sean Golden of Camden, N.J., attended the Media Summit on the third and final day.
“USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team” is a joint initiative of USA Gymnastics and AT&T.
AT&T U-verse TV customers can watch episodes of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team” by accessing the U-verse VOD library.
Visitors to the AT&T blue room Team USA site can sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new “Behind the Team” episodes are launched. Visitors can also download a free, customizable USA Gymnastics Desktop Communicator. The Communicator includes an RSS news feed, alerts users to breaking gymnastics news, runs a countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, displays weather information for selected ZIP codes and showcases special promotions and offers.
The AT&T blue room Team USA site gives sports fans intimate access to U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls across a range of sports. AT&T is an official partner of USA Gymnastics.
All U-verse TV customers have access to the U-verse VOD library, which features a variety of free and rental VOD titles. U-verse VOD offers titles the same day as DVD releases, Spanish and international movies, classic and independent films, family and kids programming, television series on demand, and exclusive content.
Customers who want additional information on AT&T U-verse TV — or to find out if it’s available in their area — can visit http://uverse.att.com. U-verse TV customers can get more information about U-verse TV programming and television events by visiting http://uverse.att.com/uconnect.
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.