Behind the Team gives fans inside look at 2008 Visa Championships in Houston

Some of the USA’s top men’s gymnasts talk about the importance of the Visa Championships and keeping their Olympic dreams alive by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics in the newest episode of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team.”

June 9, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., June 9, 2008 – Some of the USA’s top men’s gymnasts talk about the importance of the Visa Championships and keeping their Olympic dreams alive by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics 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). The Visa Championships, which were held May 22-24 in Houston, was the men’s qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, June 19-22 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The gymnasts interviewed in the episode include: Alexander Artemev of Lakewood, Colo.; Raj Bhavsar of Houston; David Durante of Garwood, N.J.; Sean Golden of Camden, N.J.; Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis.; Jonathan Horton of Houston; David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill.; Justin Spring of Burke, Va.; Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif.; and Todd Thornton of Houston.

The athletes give insight into how they deal with the pressure of competition and the things they plan to focus on during training sessions leading up to the Olympic Trials. They also speak about the camaraderie between the men and how they will support whichever gymnasts make the Olympic Team.

“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.