INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 8, 2007 – USA Gymnastics will officially start its Olympic year competition schedule in New York City when Madison Square Garden plays host to the Tyson American Cup on March 1, 2008. Sponsored for the third straight year by Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), the Tyson American Cup has a legacy of showcasing the top international gymnasts. This will be the tenth time the invitational competition is held at Madison Square Garden (MSG) and the fifth time New York has hosted it in an Olympic year.

"We are excited about starting our 2008 road to Beijing in New York and Madison Square Garden," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "This prestigious event and MSG have a long tradition, and it’s the perfect place to showcase the world’s top gymnasts just six months before the Olympics. The Tyson American Cup has a history of previewing the best, and we don’t expect 2008 to be any different."

The 2008 Tyson American Cup, which features an all-around format, begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets will go on sale this fall. The competition will be televised live on NBC Sports.

"The Tyson American Cup features gymnastics at its highest level and will be a great experience for the fans," said Carolyn Rehbock, vice president, Insights & Innovation for Tyson Foods. " This prestigious event also gives us the opportunity to communicate the importance of protein and nutrition to those who attend, as well as the millions of Americans who tune in."

Madison Square Garden was the site of the inaugural American Cup in 1976 when the USA’s Bart Conner and Romania’s Nadia Comaneci won the all-around titles. Madison Square Garden played host to this event in 1976-80, 1982-84 and 2004. Some of the best-known and loved names in gymnastics won the event during its time at Madison Square Garden, including Kurt Thomas, Peter Vidmar, Mary Lou Retton and Carly Patterson along with Conner and Comaneci.

"We are thrilled to welcome back the world’s top gymnasts to Madison Square Garden," said Joel Fisher, senior vice president, sports and facility event sales, Madison Square Garden. "Since its inception in 1879, the Garden has been a place where legends are born; it is an honor to again showcase these gymnasts and provide fans with a preview of the next Mary Lou Retton and Bart Conner."

The USA swept the titles at the 2007 Tyson American Cup. Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, won the women’s title, and Jonathan Horton of Houston claimed his second straight Tyson American Cup crown.

Past sites include: New York City (1976-80, 1982-84, 2004); Ft. Worth Texas (1981, 1996-98); Indianapolis, Ind. (1985); Fairfax, Va. (1986-90, 2003); Orlando, Fla. (1991-94, 2000-02); Seattle, Wash. (1995); St. Petersburg, Fla. (1999); Uniondale, N.Y. (2005); Philadelphia (2006); and Jacksonville, Fla. (2007).

In addition to its sponsorship of the Tyson American Cup, Tyson is powering gymnasts by providing high-quality chicken, beef and pork to the USA Gymnastics Women’s National Training Center in Huntsville, Texas. Tyson’s protein-filled products help these talented athletes to develop and maintain the strength and endurance they need to perform at elite events, such as the Tyson American Cup and the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing.

Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 104,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.