INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., June 27, 2007 – To kick-off the celebration of the 2007 Visa Championships coming to San Jose, Calif., Bay Area residents and those from the surrounding states are joining together to break the world record for the most cartwheels performed at one time of 932 that was set last year in St. Paul, Minn.  Gymnastics and local celebrities and personalities will be on hand to lead the effort to break the world record, scheduled for Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Arena Green, located adjacent to HP Pavilion at San Jose.

 

“Breaking the world record is a great opportunity for gymnastics fans and area residents to show their civic pride by surpassing the 932 mark set last year,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “Cartwheels are a trick that people of all ages have performed and we invite everyone to come out and help us rewrite the world mark for the most number of cartwheels at one time.  This will be a fun, family-oriented activity, and it is a great way to get local residents and fans excited about the Visa Championships that begin on Aug. 15.”

 

“We’re very excited to have the world’s best gymnasts in town for the Visa Championships,” said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, Visa USA. “In addition to watching these champions on the road to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, we also look forward to seeing gymnastics fans in this community set a ‘world record’ of their own.”

 

The existing record of 932 was set last year on the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul on Aug. 3 as a prelude to the 2006 Visa Championships.

 

Due to space limitations, only the first 1,000 people to sign up may participate in busting the old mark.  For consideration by the Guinness Book of World Records, each individual must register. Participants can pre-register online at www.usa-gymnastics.org for just $5 until July 27 or register on-site on Aug. 1 for $10.  The fee covers costs for registering the world record.

 

“As the Visa Championships draw near, we are looking forward to all the fun and exciting events planned in San Jose to get our community involved in this great national event,” said Patricia Ernstrom, executive director for the San Jose Sports Authority.  “Breaking the world record is another chance to show just how much San Jose flips for gymnastics!”

 

“HP Pavilion at San Jose is pleased to be hosting the Visa Championships August 15-18 and partnering with USA Gymnastics on this nationally recognized sporting event,” said Jim Goddard, executive vice president and general manager of HP Pavilion.  “Attempting to break the world’s cartwheel record in San Jose provides local gymnasts and Bay Area residents a unique opportunity to become involved with the Visa Championships.  We encourage everyone to sign up for this fun, family-oriented event.”

 

In addition to setting the world record, registered participants will receive a free gift from USA Gymnastics and a complimentary ticket voucher to the opening night of the 2007 Visa Championships on Wednesday, Aug. 15, the first day of the senior men’s competition.

 

The U.S. champions for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and acrobatic gymnastics are determined at the Visa Championships, gymnastics’ national championships.  Artistic gymnastics will be held at HP Pavilion at San Jose, and rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics are set for the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show, held in conjunction with the Visa Championships, will also be at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

 

At HP Pavilion, the artistic gymnastics competition schedule for the Visa Championships is: Wednesday, Aug. 15 – 1 p.m., junior men’s all-around and event finals, and 7 p.m., senior men’s first day of competition; Thursday, Aug. 16 – 1 p.m., junior women’s first day of competition, and 7 p.m., senior women’s first day of competition; Friday, Aug. 17 – 7 p.m., senior men’s final day of competition; and Saturday, Aug. 18 – 1 p.m., junior women’s final day of competition, and 6 p.m., senior women’s final day of competition. NBC Sports is broadcasting action from the women’s competition on a same weekend, tape-delayed basis during prime time. Coverage from the men’s competition airs later.

 

The schedule for rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center is:  Thursday, Aug. 16 – 9:30 a.m., junior rhythmic gymnastics all-around competition, and 2:30 p.m., senior rhythmic all-around