SAN ANTONIO – USA Gymnastics and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) have announced the debut of the first webisode of the original online series, “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team,” which follows the path of the nation’s top gymnasts as they prepare to represent the U.S. on the world stage in 2008. The series is available exclusively on the AT&T blue room site (www.attblueroom.com/teamusa).
During the next 15 months, the “Behind the Team” online series will feature interviews with current and former athletes and coaches, behind-the-scenes looks at training camps and competitions and will give a glimpse of the life of an elite U.S. gymnast.
“This is the story of some of the most talented gymnasts in the world and their journey to capture their sport’s highest accomplishments, essentially told in the first person,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “It is a look at USA Gymnastics that hasn’t before been available, including intimate conversations with athletes and coaches, inside-the-gym access to training regimes, and behind the scenes previews of make-or-break competition.”
“Gymnastics is a hugely popular sport in the United States, and we are excited to be able to provide this exclusive, inside look at what it takes to be one of the world’s best athletes,” said Jason Simpson, director of Olympic Integration, AT&T. “‘Behind the Team’ is a terrific opportunity for AT&T to use its expertise at delivering content to the PC screens in the compelling blue room environment.”
1984 Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton, three-time Olympian John Roethlisberger and legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, who has coached numerous Olympic and world champions, are among those featured in the first webisode, “Heart of a Champion.” The segment explores what is unique about this rapidly changing sport, how it has evolved, how the best athletes rise to the top and what is in store for the United States team as the 2008 Olympics approach.
Visitors to the AT&T blue room Team USA site can sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new vBehind the Teamv webisodes 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 the U.S. Olympic Team and USA Gymnastics and provides significant financial support, products and services to America’s athletes. AT&T will serve as the official telecommunications services partner of the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
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