INDIANAPOLIS – The Pacific’s top men’s and women’s artistic and rhythmic gymnasts will make their way to Honolulu in 2004 and 2006 to compete in the Pacific Alliance Championships presented by Outrigger Hotels. The 2004 Championships are slated for April 15-17 at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii.
“Honolulu is an ideal location for the Pacific Alliance nations and this prestigious event,” said USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi. “The Pacific Alliance Championships provides an elite team event in advance of the Olympic Games and strengthens the bonds we have with our gymnastics friends from around the world. Given Hawaii’s cultural mix from countries throughout the Pacific region, we could not think of a better location for this championships.”
The Pacific Alliance Championships will serve as an early preview of the countries to watch from the Pacific region at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Each country is likely to send their top athletes, identifying the front-runners for Olympic medals. Preliminary entries have been received from Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States.
For the U.S., the Pacific Alliance Championships will showcase potential candidates for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team as they prepare for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, June 2-5, in Nashville, and U.S. Olympic Team Trials, June 24-27 in Anaheim. The Pacific Alliance Championships will be broadcast on NBC Sports from 1-3 p.m. ET April 18.
Formed in 1981, the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics Federations was created to develop the sport of gymnastics among the member nations that are contiguous to the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Alliance Championships features athletes in the junior and senior men’s and women’s artistic disciplines, along with rhythmic gymnastics.
Following is a tentative schedule of events. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org
Monday, April 12 Arrival of Delegations
Tuesday, April 13 Training; Opening Ceremonies
Wednesday, April 14 Training
Thursday, April 15 Competition – Men’s Artistic and Rhythmic
Friday, April 16 Competition – Women’s Artistic and Rhythmic
Saturday, April 17 Competition – Individual Event Finals, All Disciplines
Sunday, April 18 Broadcast, 1-3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports