USA Wrestling selects Las
Vegas to host 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and
2007 U.S.
World Team Trials
USA Wrestling has selected Las Vegas to host two of its most
important Olympic level events in the next two years, the 2008 U.S.
Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling and the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials.
The local organizing committee for these two events will be Las
Vegas Events, which has successfully hosted numerous major sports
events in the city.
The 2007 U.S. World Team Trials will be held at the Las Vegas
Convention Center, June 9-10. This event will determine the 2007
U.S. World Team that will compete at the 2007 World Wrestling
Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in all three Olympic wrestling
styles: men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling will be held at the
Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas – Las Vegas, June 13-15. This event will determine the
U.S. team in all three styles that will represent the United States
at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
“Las Vegas and Las Vegas Events presented USA Wrestling with an
opportunity to take these properties to a higher level,” said USA
Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We are confident the
organizing committee and the entire community will step forward to
insure the success of the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials and the 2008
U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling. We are excited to form a
partnership with Las Vegas Events to the benefit of both parties
well into the future.”
“We are certainly excited about the opportunity to host two of the
most prestigious wrestling competitions in consecutive years,” said
Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events and a former NCAA
wrestling champion. “We have experience in hosting wrestling
events, and we think that Las Vegas will provide a perfect backdrop
for these two events. To be chosen as the host city is significant
for Las Vegas, and we’re happy to add this to our growing roster of
events.”
Each year, Las Vegas plays host to numerous major sports events
including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, NASCAR Nextel Cup and
Craftsman Truck Series events, NHRA Drag Racing, USA Basketball
Men’s Senior National Team Training and Exhibition, the Las Vegas
Bowl, PBR World Finals, Vegoose Music Festival and the signature New
Year’s Eve production, America‘s Party.
Among the major wrestling events held in Las Vegas has been the U.S.
National Wrestling Championships, which has been held in the city 18
of the last 20 years. Included in the event has been the U.S. Senior
Nationals, plus the Veterans Nationals, the FILA Junior Nationals
and the Western Junior Regionals.
“Las Vegas will do a great job marketing, promoting and presenting
the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling and the 2007 U.S.
World Team Trials,” said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling’s Director of
National Events. “They also have great ideas for other activities
surrounding the Trials events which will draw additional spectators.
We look forward to working together to make this the best U.S.
Olympic Team Trials in the history of USA Wrestling.”
Las Vegas Events plans to launch an aggressive marketing campaign to
encourage the wrestling community and the general public to attend
these major events and enjoy the many entertainment and cultural
activities available in Las Vegas.
As the host city, Las Vegas is a world-class travel destination.
Las Vegas offers spectacular shopping, dining, entertainment, and
non-stop excitement 24 hours a day. With approximately 133,000
hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone, more than 38.7 million visitors are
expected to make the city their convention and tourist destination
this year.
The United States is one of the world’s top wrestling nations, and
is expected to be a contender for a number of medals at the 2008
Olympic Games in Beijing, China. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens,
Greece, the U.S. captured six medals, including individual Olympic
champion Cael Sanderson in men’s freestyle. At the 2006 World
Wrestling Championships, the U.S. brought home nine medals,
including two individual World champions, Bill Zadick in men’s
freestyle and Joe Warren in men’s Greco-Roman.
The past sites for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, since USA
Wrestling has been the National Governing Body, have included
Allendale, Mich. (1984); Pensacola, Fla. (1988); Pittsburgh, Pa. for
freestyle and Concord, Calif. for Greco-Roman (1992); Spokane, Wash.
for freestyle and Concord, Calif. for Greco-Roman (1996); Dallas,
Texas (2000) and Indianapolis, Ind. (2004).
For more information on USA Wrestling and the announcement, please
go to
www.TheMat.com
or
www.USAWrestlingLasVegas.com.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for amateur wrestling
in the United States, and as such, is a member of the U.S. Olympic
Committee and the international wrestling federation FILA. USA
Wrestling coordinates grassroots and elite wrestling programs across
the country, and works to create interest and participation in these
programs. USA Wrestling’s 145,000-strong membership includes
athletes of all ages, plus officials, coaches, parents, volunteers
and fans.
www.TheMat.com
About Las Vegas Events
Founded in 1983, Las Vegas Events, Inc. has grown with Las Vegas as
the city has emerged as one of the world’s top special event and
resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is
funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special
events agency for the city. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has
produced, presented or supported more than 300 events, which have
driven more than 2.8 million visitors to the area, resulting in an
economic impact of more than $1.6 billion.
www.lasvegasevents.com
