WORCESTER, Mass., March 4, 2010 – This weekend, Worcester, Mass., is the place to be for gymnastics. On Friday night (March 5), 36 of the nation’s top Junior Olympic gymnasts take the floor in the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, and on Saturday, a combination of the world’s top gymnasts and rising stars including nine 2008 Olympians and four 2009 World medalists go head-to-head in the 2010 Tyson American Cup, the United States most prestigious invitational. Both events take place at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., and tickets are still available. For those not in the Boston area, the two events will appear live on television and the Internet.

“This is going to be a great two days of gymnastics,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “On Friday night, some of our top Junior Olympians will experience a special competitive opportunity with the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, and on Saturday afternoon, fans in the Boston-area will see some of the world’s best gymnasts contending for the coveted Tyson American Cup title. These two events provide the opportunity to see up-and-coming gymnasts, as well as those who have set their sights on London in 2012, whether fans are in Worcester or from the comfort of their homes on either TV or the web.”

 

 

Tyson American Cup

 

 

The USA’s Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas, the 2009 World all-around silver-medalist; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass., the 2009 Junior Pan American Championships vault and floor exercise champion; two-time Tyson American Cup champion Jonathan Horton of Houston (who is the 2008 Olympic horizontal bar silver-medalist and the 2009 U.S. all-around champion), and Chris Brooks of Houston, the 2010 Winter Cup Challenge all-around champion, face strong competition from gymnasts from 11 countries. Reigning Tyson American Cup champion and 2008 Olympic horizontal bar bronze-medalist Fabian Hambuechen of Germany highlights the international field that includes 2009 World all-around silver-medalist Daniel Keatings of Great Britain, 2009 World vault silver-medalists Ariella Kaeslin of Switzerland and Flavius Koczi of Romania, 2009 World all-around fifth-place finisher Maxim Devyatovsky of Russia, 2009 World vault-finalist Elsa Garcia of Mexico, and World Cup floor exercise bronze-medalist Elisabeth Seitz of Germany.

Universal Sports will air the early rotations of the Tyson American Cup live from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with NBC Sports picking up the live action at 1 p.m. UniversalSports.com will carry a live simul-webcast of the entire event. In addition, tysonamericancup.com has supplemental information, including start lists, quick hits, photos, live scoring and the webcast. Fans can also get up-to-the-minute event information on their smart phones using the mobile version of tysonamericancup.com.

 

 

Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup

 

 

In its first year, the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup showcases some of the country’s top rising gymnasts. Held in conjunction with the Tyson American Cup, the one-night event is a joint venture between Warner Bros. Consumer Products, USA Gymnastics and the 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas. The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup provides a unique competitive opportunity for these up-and-coming female gymnasts. Proceeds from the event go to the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation. Universal Sports is carrying the event live on both its television network and its web site. Go to UniversalSports.com to find the station in each locale, as well as the webcast. Start lists, live results and other event information is available at nastialiukinsupergirlcup.com.

 

 

Tickets and in-venue activities

 

 

Tickets for both competitions are still available and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com (Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup | Tyson American Cup), or at the DCU Center Ticket Office. Visa is the preferred method of payment.

Some fun activities are available for those going to the DCU Center.

  • Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone. Kids can have fun and learn about the importance of fitness through the interactive Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone, which features cardiovascular exercise, strength and flexibility activities, and healthy nutrition guides. Participants who complete the Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone, which is open from 6-7 p.m. on Friday and 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, will have the chance to receive a signed autograph from 2009 Tyson American Cup champion Jordyn Wieber on Friday and Saturday, as well as 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist Alicia Sacramone on Saturday.
  • AT&T Experience. Fans can enjoy an interactive zone featuring AT&T products and services on Saturday.
  • WGYM radio. Olympians Sacramone, who has seven world medals to her credit, and Steve McCain, a 2001 World team silver medalist, will provide commentary and insights during the Tyson American Cup on WGYM, USA Gymnastics’ in-arena radio show. Receivers for the radio program are sold along with the event program.

 

 

Background information

 

 

DCU Center: A multi-purpose arena and convention center uniquely designed to accommodate the needs of any size group from 15 to 15,000, the DCU Center is owned by the City of Worcester and managed by SMG, the world’s leading private management and developing firm for public assembly facilities. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides management services to over 200 public assembly facilities internationally and also offers food and beverage operations through SAVOR… Catering by SMG. For more information, please visit www.dcucenter.com.

Tyson Foods, Inc.: Founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, Tyson Foods, Inc. 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 90 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 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.

Nastia Liukin: At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin’s total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, currently held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin’s medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin is just the third U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around crown. Earlier in 2008, Liukin won the all-around title at both the Tyson American Cup and the Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus. Liukin has nine world medals to her credit. For 2008, she was named the USOC’s Co-Sportswoman of the Year, the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Individual Sportswoman of the Year and the United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year. Liukin and her teammates on the 2007 U.S. Women’s World Championships Team were selected as the 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year. She was also chosen as one of 2009’s most influential women by MSN Lifestyle. Liukin is still competing and is coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988, including two gold. She trains at WOGA.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products: Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

DC Comics: DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

Supergirl and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.