2012 US Olympic Trials Gymnastics

© John Cheng / Diane Bidermann

• More Olympic Trials information

INDIANAPOLIS, June 18, 2012 — From June 26-July 1, San Jose, Calif., will become Gymnastics City USA to celebrate the city's hosting the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics, scheduled for June 28-July 1 at HP Pavilion at San Jose (Calif.). A number of fun activities are planned for fans and Bay Area residents during the week, including morning fitness at the Circle of Palms to the Visa Fan Fest and AT&T Block Party, which will be held at the Village Green located adjacent to HP Pavilion.The following is a quick overview of the fan activities available during the U.S. Olympic Trials and comprise Gymnastics City USA. For the most up-to-date and complete information on all event and fan activities, go to www.sanjose2012.com.

• Morning fitness. Residents, fans and members of the gymnastics community can start the day off right with an early morning workout at the Circle of Palms, located across from Plaza de Cesar Chavez, on June 28-29. Beginning at 6:30 a.m., the hour-long workout will be led by Olympian John Macready and other well-known gymnastics celebs.
• Opening Ceremony. Gymnastics enthusiasts and the general public are invited to the opening ceremony on Thursday, June 28, at 12 p.m. located near HP Pavilion on Autumn and Santa Clara Streets. Local and gymnastics dignitaries, Olympians and celebrities will be on hand as the U.S. Olympic Trials kick off with renaming Autumn Street, raising the Olympic flag, and the grand opening of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Road to London.
  
  • Road to London Tour. The U.S. Olympic Committee's Road to London Tour, opening on June 28 at noon, creates the atmosphere of the Olympic and Paralympic Games through interactive and media elements that allow fans to experience what it will be like on the field of play in London. The activities include pedaling through the Olympic cycling venue with progress shown on interactive TV monitors; taking photos of weightlifting moves; shooting a basketball while sitting in a wheelchair; comparing digital rifle shooting skills against the records of U.S. athletes; and reading messages from Team USA athletes as well as posting messages for friends and family via social media. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
• Visa Fan Fest. Fans can gather for fun before the gymnastics sessions on June 29-July 1 at the Visa Fan Fest, held at the Arena Green adjacent to HP Pavilion. The Visa Fan Fest will be a great place to mingle and enjoy the activities, including the Road to London, Painting at the Park, the USA Gymnastics Fitness Zone, and other interactive activities, along with music, autographs, face painting, balloon art, gymnastics demonstrations and interviews with well-known gymnastics figures. The schedule is June 29, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; June 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; and July 1, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
  
  • Painting in the Park. Gymnastics fans and citizens of San Jose can help create an original painting that will become a part of the history of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials -- Gymnastics. Interested individuals will have the opportunity to dip their hands and/or feet into paint and do handstands, cartwheels or walk across the canvas, developing a communal piece of art. Painting in the Park will be available during the Visa Fan Fest and AT&T Block Party. Those expected to participate include gymnasts competing in the event, local and gymnastics celebrities and dignitaries, gymnastics fans, aspiring gymnasts and residents of San Jose. The finished canvas will be featured during the final session of the U.S. Olympic Trials, and pieces of the canvas will be presented as special gifts to selected organizations and individuals affiliated with the event. Painting in the Park is presented by Art of the Olympians, founded by Cathy Oerter and her late husband, Al, who was a four-time Olympic discus champion.
  • USA Gymnastics Fitness Zone. Kids can have fun and gain knowledge about the importance of fitness through the interactive USA Gymnastics Fitness Zone. The zone features activities in building strength, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise.
  • Interactive booths and games. Kids and adults will enjoy a variety of interactive booths from companies like Hilton, AT&T, Kellogg's and Procter and Gamble.
• AT&T Block Party. The Arena Green, located next to HP Pavilion, will come alive after the competition on June 30 and July 1 with the AT&T Block Party. In addition to the activities of the Visa Fan Fest, the AT&T Block Party has the added elements of live entertainment, food and drink. In addition to well-known gymnasts, the members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team for gymnastics will be introduced on July 1.
• WGYM. Two-time Olympic gold-medalist Shannon Miller and 2007 U.S. all-around champion and Stanford grad David Durante will host WGYM, the in-house radio broadcast for men's and women's gymnastics. WGYM provides running commentary on the competition, as well as fun facts about the sport and the competitors. Radios will be available at the HP Pavilion.
• Merchandise. Fans can purchase everything gymnastics from event-specific tees to the newest leotards at the HP Pavilion, Visa Fan Fest and AT&T Block Party. The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics are proud to accept only Visa, along with cash.

Also, it will be easier than ever to follow the competition and fan events online. Schedules, the official program and general information for both fan and competition activities, start lists, live scoring and more will be available at www.sanjose2012.com, which is easily viewable on smart phones and other digital devices.Single-session tickets range in price from $36-$102, including facility fees. The prices vary according to seat location and session. Four multi-session and all-session ticket packages are still available. Multi-session packages, ranging in price from $78 to $236, include a 3-day weekend package; a two-day women's package; a two-day men's package; and a finals package featuring the final day of competition for both men and women. All-session ticket packages, which include all four competition sessions and range in price from $135 to $533, are also still available. A limited number of Platinum Packages, which feature premium seating in the lower bowl, are available at $903. In addition to the best seat locations, Platinum Packages include meet-and-greets with gymnastics celebrities, nightly hospitality, a free event program and a commemorative gift.
All tickets may be purchased through ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets and the HP Pavilion Ticket Office. In recognition of Visa's long-time support, USA Gymnastics is proud to accept only Visa at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics, along with cash. For more information and details on the ticket packages, go to www.sanjose2012.com.
The Trials' competition schedule is: men - June 28 at 2 p.m. and June 30 at 12 p.m.; and women - June 29 and July 1 at 5:30 p.m. All times are for the Pacific time zone.
The five men and women who will represent the United States in men's and women's gymnastics at the 2012 Olympic Games in London will be determined at the Trials, subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee's board of directors.
For the men, two athletes will be identified immediately following the conclusion of the second day of competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The remaining members will be named within 24 hours and will be announced on July 1 in conjunction with the women's final session. For the women, the individual all-around champion at the conclusion of two days of competition at the Trials will automatically make the U.S. Olympic Team. The remaining four athletes will be determined by the selection committee. The women's team will be announced on July 1. In addition to the team members, the replacement athletes will also be named.
In conjunction with the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, San Jose is playing host to the 2012 USA Gymnastics Championships for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline at the San Jose Convention Center on June 26-27. For men's and women's trampoline, this competition serves as the third of three selection events to determine which man and woman will represent the USA in trampoline at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
The U.S. Olympic Trials for all sports is a collaborative, three-way partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee, the National Governing Bodies and the Local Organizing Committees. Locally, the Trials efforts are headed by the San Jose Sports Authority and HP Pavilion and include support from the City of San Jose, San Jose Hotels, Inc., and the San Jose Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
Background information

• HP Pavilion. HP Pavilion at San Jose, managed by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, hosts nearly 100 sporting events annually including more than 40 San Jose Sharks regular season home games and the SAP Open men's professional tennis tournament. The building hosts approximately 170 events every year -- including Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners and a variety of family and children's favorites that account for more than 200 event days. Pollstar, the leading concert industry trade magazine, nominated HP Pavilion at San Jose as "Arena of the Year" for 2005 and 2007. In 2007, Pollstar also recognized HP Pavilion at San Jose based on non-sports attendance as fourth in North America, top 10 in the world. Over the past 10 years, HP Pavilion at San Jose has consistently been in the Top 5 in North America and top 10 in the world.
• San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.
• City of San Jose. From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world's leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the United States, is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov.
• San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB). The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB), a 25 year old organization focused on enhancing the image and economic well being of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose, a unique customer service model that works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts leadership and business community to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. Team San Jose manages the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose, including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.
• San Jose Hotels Inc. (SJHI). San Jose Hotels Inc., is a hotels-led, non-profit business improvement district representing 35 San Jose-based hotels. SJHI leverages destination investment focused on event sponsorship, marketing and public relations to attract conventions, events and meetings to San Jose through a unique partnership with Team San Jose and the SJCVB.