2009 Tyson American Cup Fact Sheet

What: The 2009 Tyson American Cup is one of the sport’s premier international invitationals. When: Feb. 21, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. CT Where: Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Chicago metropolitan area) Who: The Tyson American Cup features a mix of the world’s top gymnasts and rising stars. 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist of Pittsboro, Ind., 2008 Olympic team bronze-medalist Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M., 2008 U.S. all-around champion David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill., and 2008 U.S. junior all-around champion of DeWitt, Mich., are representing the USA at the 2009 Tyson American Cup. Other confirmed 2008 Olympic medalists include Olympic all-around bronze-medalist Benoit Caranobe of France and Olympic bronze-medalist Fabian Hambuechen of Germany. Also scheduled to compete are: men – Japan’s Koji Uematsu, ’s Luis Rivera Rivera, ’s Adrian Bucur and ’s Yury Ryazanov; and women – Canada’s Brittany Rogers, France’s Youna Dufournet, Germany’s Kim Bui, Great Britain’s Rebecca Downie, Japan’s Koko Tsurumi, Romania’s Amelia Racea, Russia’s Kristina Goryunova and ’s Jessica Lopez. Ten 2008 Olympians, including five all-around finalists in , are in the 2009 Tyson American Cup field. On Friday, Feb. 20, Tyson American Cup ticket holders may also attend a USA-Japan women’s friendly dual meet at the Sears Centre Arena. The dual meet begins at 8 p.m. CT, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. The dual meet participants are not gymnasts competing in the Tyson American Cup. A ticket for Saturday’s session is required for admittance to the USA-Japan friendly dual meet. Format: The Tyson American Cup is an all-around competition, which means the men compete on all six apparatus and the women on four. The male and female gymnasts with the highest total score after the end of the event win the Tyson American Cup titles. Schedule: Friday, Feb. 20 7-8 p.m. Athlete warm-up for USA-Japan friendly dual meet 7:30 p.m. Doors open. (A ticket for Saturday’s session is required for fan admittance to the USA-Japan friendly dual meet.) 8-9:30 p.m. USA-Japan friendly dual meet Saturday, Feb. 21 11:45 a.m.-1:25 p.m. Athlete warm-up for Tyson American Cup 12:30 p.m. Fan activities on the concourse, including autograph signing, Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone, AT&T interactive zone and a Chicago 2016 booth. (End times vary for each activity.) 1:30-5 p.m. Tyson American Cup Fan activities: Fans attending the Tyson American Cup on Feb. 21 will have the opportunity to experience some fun activities when the doors open at 12:30 p.m. The fan activities scheduled include: • “Celebration of Champions” autograph signing. Several former event champions who also won Olympic gold medals will sign autographs from 12:30-1:10 p.m. The former champions expected include , , Kerri Strug, Stella Zakharova, Elena Zamolodchikova, , , , and . These well-known stars will also be recognized as part of the event’s opening ceremony. • Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone. Kids can have fun and learn about the importance of fitness through the interactive Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone. The zone features activity

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2009 Tyson American Cup Fact Sheet

in building strength, flexibility, cardiovascular exercise and good nutrition. 2004 Olympic team silver-medalist and former collegiate gymnast Beth Horn will sign autographs for participants who complete the Tyson Fitness Challenge Zone, which is open from 12:30-1:30 p.m. • AT&T Experience. Fans can enjoy an interactive zone featuring AT&T products and services with added entertainment value. • Chicago 2016 booth. Fans are encouraged to stop by Chicago 2016’s booth to learn about and pledge their support for the city’s bid to host the 2016 . • WGYM radio. 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist and Dan Gill, a successful elite and collegiate gymnast, will provide commentary and insights during the Tyson American Cup on WGYM, USA Gymnastics’ in-house radio show available in the arena. Receivers for the radio program are sold along with an event program. Television: The 2009 Tyson American Cup will be televised live on Universal Sports at 2:30 p.m. ET, with continuing action on NBC Sports at 4 p.m. ET. Online: The Tyson American Cup Web site (www.tysonamericancup.com) features a new look, videos, news and event information. Leading up to the Tyson American Cup on Feb. 21, fans can enjoy interviews and training footage from media day and other activities surrounding the event, as well as the start lists. On Feb. 21, fans can follow the results online as they watch the action on both Universal Sports (2:30 p.m. ET) and NBC Sports (4 p.m. ET). Tickets: On sale now, ticket prices range from $19.50-$125 and are subject to applicable fees and availability. Tickets may be purchased charge by phone at 312-559-1212 or 1-888- SEARSTIX; online at www.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; or at the Sears Centre Arena Box Office. Visa is the preferred method of payment. History: Some of the sport’s biggest names are former Tyson American Cup all-around gold medalists, including: men – Paul Hamm, , , Blaine Wilson, , Vitaly Scherbo (Belarus), Tim Daggett, Peter Vidmar, Mitsuo Tsukahara (Japan), and ; and women – Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, , Elena Zamolodchikova (Russia), Kerri Strug, Dominique Dawes, , Kim Zmeskal, Kristie Phillips, Mary Lou Retton, Julianne McNamara, Stella Zakarova (USSR) and Nadia Comaneci (Romania). At the 2008 Tyson American Cup, the USA’s Nastia Liukin of Parker, , the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, won the women’s all-around title, with 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., winning the men’s crown. 2008 Olympic gold-medalist Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, and 2008 Olympic team bronze-medalist Alexander Artemev of Highlands Ranch, Colo., were second for the women and men, respectively. First held in 1976, past sites are: (1976-80, 1982-84, 2004, 2008); Ft. Worth Texas (1981, 1996-98); Indianapolis, Ind. (1985); Fairfax, Va. (1986-90, 2003); Orlando, Fla. (1991-94, 2000-02); Seattle (1995); St. Petersburg, Fla. (1999); Uniondale, N.Y. (2005); Philadelphia (2006); and Jacksonville, Fla. (2007). Sponsor: Tyson Foods, Inc., 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 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. Organizations: Sears Centre Arena is an 11,200 seat multi purpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates’ Prairie Stone Business Park. Sears Centre Arena has hosted international events in the past such as the FIVB World League match up

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between Olympic Gold Medalist USA Men’s Volleyball and Bulgaria. Coming events at the Sears Centre Arena include the Eagles concert – Long Road Out of Eden Tour, Chris Tomlin concert - Hello Love Tour, and more! For more information regarding Sears Centre Arena and coming events, please visit the arena’s new website at www.searscentre.com. World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth. Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete Advisory Counsel (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events. WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy as a real agent of social change for the city. William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board and Scott Myers serves as the executive director. Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO. 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 , rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org. Contact: Karen Saladyga, USA Gymnastics, 317-xxx-xxxx (c), [email protected] Leslie King, USA Gymnastics, 317-xxx-xxxx (c), [email protected] Julie Avis, Sears Centre Arena, 847-xxx-xxxx (w), 630-xxx-xxxx (c), [email protected] Mica Matsoff, Chicago 2016, 312-xxx-xxxx (w), 312-xxx-xxxx (c), [email protected] Jaclyn Valrose, Chicago 2016, 312-xxx-xxxx (w), [email protected]

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