USA GYMNASTICS Message
Dear Members,
The growth of gymnastics has always been important, but never more so than during an Olympic year. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will not only give the world a taste of what our extraordinary athletes can do, but it will help to create a new interest in the sport.
The upcoming months will provide numerous opportunities to promote the sport within our communities. These events include National Gymnastics Day, the post-Olympic TJ Maxx Tour of Gymnastics Champions, the launch of the Fitnastics program, and of course, the Olympic Games.
This year's National Gymnastics Day is being held on August 7, only one week before the start of the Olympics. We are inviting all clubs to visit our website and let us know what activities their gym has planned to celebrate the sport. We are also encouraging clubs to host cartwheel-a-thons to support the Children's Miracle Network. Last year, our clubs raised over $133,000 for CMN. This year, we hope to increase the overall donation as well as the media exposure for the event and the sport.
National Gymnastics Day has also been officially recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and by several states. It is our goal to once again have all 50 states proclaim August 7, 2004, as National Gymnastics Day. I encourage you to contact your state and local officials to have the day proclaimed in your area too. Visit the NGD website at www.usa-gymnastics.org for ideas and resources that your club can use for National Gymnastics Day. There is a free group demonstration routine that your club can learn and perform from the website.
On Thursday, August 5 and Friday, August 6 USA Gymnastics we will be sponsoring a National Pep Rally for the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team. This will take place in most of the 38 cities hosting the 2004 T.J. Maxx Tour of Gymnastics Champions. USA Gymnastics has partnered with NBC's "Today Show" and each market is partnering with local media to promote gymnastics and the T.J. Maxx Tour. This great combination of two of USA Gymnastics most exciting programs and one of America's premier morning shows will certainly help to build momentum as we head into the Olympic Games. We encourage all clubs to do a pep rally at their gym on National Gymnastics Day and sign cards and banners for Athens. Send your good luck wishes to USA Gymnastics (Pan American Plaza, 201 S. Capitol Ave., Ste. 300, Indpls., IN 46225) by August 10 and we will be sure they get to Athens for the Games.
Also in August, USA Gymnastics will officially launch Fitnastics, a program designed to teach children how to lead a healthy, active lifestyle through the incorporation of gymnastics-style exercise and good nutrition. This program was created to help combat the growing trend of child obesity in the United States today, and we hope that the program will not only teach children how to become healthy adults, but that it will allow our clubs to extend their reach into the community and develop the future of the sport.
All of these events, in addition to the growing support for Team USA at the Olympic Games, are certain to help us promote the sport of gymnastics. It's up to you to make sure that your club is taking advantage of these wonderful opportunities and doing your part to increase the interest in gymnastics in your community. We are looking forward to a great summer, and with the help and support of our clubs, an even greater future for the sport.
Loreé Galimore
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