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Olympians, Community Gather to Boost 2012 Olympic Bid
in San Francisco, San Jose & Oakland on Saturday,
October 26th
October 20th, 2002 — Olympians,
volunteers and people from around the San
Francisco Bay Area will rally to demonstrate
their support for the San Francisco Bay
Area's 2012 Olympic Bid at three locations
on Saturday, Oct. 26th. The Bay Area Rallies
for 2012 will take place just seven days
before the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC)
selects the U.S. Candidate City for the
2012 Olympic Games on November 2nd.
In San Francisco'sYerba Buena Gardens (off
Mission St. between 3rd and 4th Streets)
3 - 4:30 p.m., at San Jose's Spartan Stadium
from 12 -1:30 p.m. and in Oakland's Jack
London Square 12 - 1:30 p.m., Olympians
will demonstrate sports from soccer to sailing,
from fencing to field hockey. The public
is invited to take part in the sports clinics,
meet Olympians, find out more about the
San Francisco Bay Area's 2012 Olympic Bid
and join in a show of support for the 2012
Bid.
"The Bay Area Rallies for 2012 are
a great opportunity for Bay Area residents
to come out, meet the Olympians and send
a message to the United States Olympic Committee
that the San Francisco Bay Area is the best
choice for U.S. Candidate for the 2012 Olympic
Games," said BASOC/San Francisco 2012
President and CEO Anne Cribbs, a 1960 Olympian.
"These events will showcase the Bay
Areaís overwhelming public support
and enthusiasm for hosting the 2012 Olympic
Games." A recent scientifically-conducted
poll shows 91% of Bay Area voters support
the 2012 bid. The San Francisco Bay Area
also had the largest share of 2002 Olympic
Winter Games viewers of any major television
market in the nation earlier this year,
demonstrating the region's enthusiasm for
the Olympic Games.
On Saturday, October 26, the Bay Area Rallies
for 2012 in San Francisco, San Jose and
Oakland will feature each Olympic sport
and many demonstrations by Bay Area Olympians.
In a major event, dozens of Olympians will
be signing autographs before the San Jose
State football game at Spartan Stadium and
demonstrating Olympic sports like judo,
soccer and track & field. The half time
show will feature a tribute to honor Northern
California Olympians and feature the unfurling
of a giant American flag on the field. Football
game tickets are available at SJSU
Tickets. Gold Medal gymnast Kerri Strug
and other Olympians will be at San Franciscoís
Union Square, which will host demonstrations
of Olympic sports taekwondo, weightlifting
and wrestling, among others. Three-time
Olympian (1980, 1984, 1988) Greg Massialas
will give a fencing demonstration. "Having
nurtured many junior champions here, itís
fitting that fencing should come to San
Francisco."
In Oakland's Jack London Square, Olympian
rower Ted Murphy (1996, 2000) will demonstrate
sculling. "Our geography and climate
are what make the San Francisco Bay Area
home to so many Olympians. Weíd be
thrilled to share our excellent conditions
with all of the worldís best athletes.
And our love of sport here in the Bay Area
means over 80% of all the venues weíll
need to host the Games of 2012 are already
in place," said Murphy. Triathlon,
sailing, basketball and other sports will
be demonstrated in Oakland as well.
For event details and schedules, call: Scott
Thompson, San Francisco Event Solutions
(415) 781-3868, sfes@pacbell.net
For media enquiries, call: Mark Dolley,
415-394-6755 ext. 221, mark.dolley@lycos.com
Josh Francois, San Jose State University,
408-924-1537, josh.francois@sjsu.edu
Margaret Philpotts, 415-394-6755 ext.
221, philpotts4@hotmail.com
Tony Winnicker, 415-394-6755 or 415-305-5617
(cell), winnicker@yahoo.com
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