Fans will have unprecedented opportunities to follow U.S. Team
at 2007 World Championships

 

AT&T, NBC Sports, WCSN join with USA Gymnastics to provide coverage via the Web, network TV

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 29, 2007 – Gymnastics fans from across the country will have an unprecedented opportunity to follow the USA’s top gymnasts as they vie for titles and medals at the 2007 World Gymnastics Championships, as well as to qualify the United States for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. 

 

Through a partnership of USA Gymnastics, AT&T, NBC Sports and WCSN, fans can experience the competition via the Internet and network television.

·         Aug. 31-Sept. 9: AT&T’s blueroom, as part of “USA Gymnastics:  Behind the Team,” will provide video clips from Stuttgart, including post-competition interviews. “Behind the Team” is an online, Web-based series that follows the path of the nation’s top gymnasts as they prepare to represent the United States on the world stage in 2008 and is available exclusively at AT&T blueroom (www.attblueroom.com/teamusa).

·         Sept. 5-9:  Fans can watch a free Webcast, both live and on-demand, of the men’s and women’s team, all-around and individual event finals at www.wcsn.com. WCSN.com’s daily, live coverage of the medal rounds begins with the women’s team finals on Sept. 5 and concludes on the last day of the individual event finals on Sept. 9.

·         Oct. 7:  At 4 p.m. ET, gymnastics fans can enjoy coverage of the 2007 World Championships on a two-hour NBC Sports broadcast.  Viewers should check local listings to confirm times in their locale. This will be the first time the World Championships have been on network television since 2003.

 

“We appreciate the spirit of partnership between AT&T, NBC Sports, WCSN and the International Gymnastics Federation that has resulted in unprecedented U.S. coverage of a non-U.S.-based Worlds,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “This cooperative effort provides gymnastics fans with more access to see the USA’s best gymnasts square off against the best the world has to offer.  With both world titles and Olympic qualifying on the line, the competition is sure to be incredible.”

 

“NBC is pleased to carry coverage of the 2007 World Championships,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics.  “With the Olympic Games less than a year away, the Worlds will give our viewers their first chance to see the world’s best gymnasts as a prelude to next year’s Games.”

 

“WCSN is proud to offer fans the ability to watch the World Championships at no cost as part of this expansive plan to engage viewers like never before,” said Claude Ruibal, chairman and CEO of WCSN, which is offering access to international gymnastics events at no charge in 2007. “We’re working diligently to further bolster awareness for Team USA and we are confident that the free showcase of this major gymnastics competition will be a huge success.”

 

NBC, the network of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, also carries gymnastics’ premier events, the Tyson American Cup, Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships and Visa Championships.

 

2007 marks the third consecutive year in which WCSN.com has brought gymnastics fans live Webcast coverage of the World Championships. WCSN.com is offering free coverage of World Cup and World Championship gymnastics events throughout the year to all U.S. visitors to drive awareness and provide fans with more opportunities to tune in to the action.

 

About “USA Gymnastics:  Behind the Team”

During the next 12 months, “Behind the Team” will feature interviews with current and former athletes and coaches, behind-the-scenes looks at training camps and competitions and will give a glimpse of the life of an elite U.S. gymnast.  “USA Gymnastics:  Behind the Team” is a joint initiative of USA Gymnastics and AT&T.

 

Visitors to the AT&T blue room Team USA site can sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new “Behind the Team” episodes are launched. Visitors can also download a free, customizable USA Gymnastics Desktop Communicator. The Communicator includes an RSS news feed, alerts users to breaking gymnastics news, runs a countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, displays weather information for selected ZIP codes and showcases special promotions and offers. The AT&T blue room Team USA site gives sports fans intimate access to U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls across a range of sports.  AT&T is an official partner of the USA Gymnastics.

 

About NBC Olympics:

NBC, America’s Olympic Network, owns all exclusive U.S. media rights for an unprecedented seven consecutive Summer and Winter Olympics, a run which began with the 2000 Sydney Games and continues through the 2012 London Games. NBC Universal will present more than 3,600 hours of coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the most ambitious single media project in history and more than the combined total of every Summer Olympics ever televised in the United States. The Beijing Games will be the 11th Olympic broadcast for NBC, more than any other network in U.S. television history.  NBCOlympics.com is a year-round destination for fans of Olympic sports and athletes, with news, features, expert and athlete blogs, video and photos, and social networking tools.

 

About World Championship Sports Network

World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) is the premier destination for fans of Olympic and lifestyle sports, delivering an immersive experience via exclusive live and on demand coverage of world class competitions, interaction with top athletes and in depth access to sports news and information year round.  

 

WCSN offers comprehensive coverage of over 60 sports disciplines, through exclusive long term programming agreements across a number of key International Federations and National Governing Bodies. Major championship events in sports ranging from athletics (track & field), skiing, swimming, gymnastics and cycling to volleyball, karate and taekwondo are featured online at www.wcsn.com and on television via WCSN's 24/7 cable sports network. WCSN also markets Olympic sports in partnership with International Federations, National Governing Bodies, local organizations, clubs, sponsors, and through related websites and publications.

 

WCSN has a strategic partnership agreement with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet Company of Major League Baseball, for its website WCSN.com.  WCSN’s lead investor is Polaris Venture Partners who invests in seed, early stage, and middle market companies in high growth industries.  They have over $3 billion under management and currently invest in over 90 companies.  For more information, please visit www.wcsn.com.

 

 

About USA Gymnastics

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 artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.