Paul Hamm signs autographs at the Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Dec. 27, 2008 – The Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone will be featured as part of the gymnastics activities at the 2008 Mayor Daley’s Holiday Sports Festival, Dec. 27-29 at McCormick Place (Halls A&B) in downtown Chicago from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Gymnastics is one of many activities available in the interactive zones, and the Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone will be held in conjunction with gymnastics. The Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone is an interactive area where kids can have fun and gain knowledge on the importance of fitness through activities that focus on building strength, flexibility, cardiovascular exercise and good nutrition.

The Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone gives a brief introduction into four fundamentals of fitness that are the cornerstone of the Tyson Fitness Challenge, a fitness initiative with two goals: helping today’s kids get more physically fit and raising money through Children’s Miracle Network to help kids who are fighting illnesses. The Tyson Fitness Challenge is held in gymnastics clubs across the country and is a fun and safe way for today’s youth to become more physically active. In addition, the Tyson Fitness Challenge is the vehicle for the gymnastics community to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network as part of annual celebrations for National Gymnastics Day. In just eight years, the gymnastics family has raised more than $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network. The Tyson Fitness Challenge is a joint initiative of Tyson Foods and USA Gymnastics. The activity is being held as part of the community-based efforts surrounding the Tyson American Cup, a prestigious international gymnastics invitational that will be held in the Chicago metropolitan area on Feb. 21.

The three-day Holiday Sports Festival is sponsored by the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and McCormick Place and free to the general public. The Holiday Sports Festival features activities in more than 30 different sports, along with events in three sports and special performances and appearances. For more information on the Holiday Sports Festival, go to www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents.