BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 19, 2010 - USA Gymnastics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced today that the Supergirl brand, based on the DC Comics' character, will be the title sponsor of the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, a competition for 36 of the country's rising female gymnasts hosted by 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin and USA Gymnastics. Proceeds from the event benefit the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.
"Supergirl is the ideal sponsor for this event featuring rising gymnasts," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup will showcase some of the top up-and-coming gymnasts in the country, giving athletes a unique chance to pursue their passion with independence, creativity and style."
The Supergirl S-shield is universally recognized as an unmatched symbol of strength, leadership and female empowerment, and uniquely embodies the ideals of the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup. This special event, which celebrates the accomplishments of young, rising stars, continues the Supergirl brand's support of today's action sports girl and builds on the spirit of the Supergirl Jam, the industry's only large-scale, all-girls action sports competition.
"We believe in supporting young athletes and events that allow them to demonstrate their impact on young women everywhere," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "Supergirl celebrates the strength, power and skill of female athletes and Nastia represents the best of not only women's gymnastics, but also achievement for girls of all types. Her integrity, commitment to giving back, sportsmanship and leadership embody the traits represented by the Supergirl brand."
"I am excited about Supergirl's involvement with the Cup," said Liukin, who has a total of nine world and five Olympic medals to her credit. "Gymnastics is such a great sport for young women, and the lessons gymnastics teaches girls are the essence of the Supergirl brand - dedication, teamwork, self-esteem and passion for what you do. Building a partnership with USA Gymnastics and the Supergirl brand really helps solidify my vision on health, fitness and lifestyle issues that affect millions of girls."
To qualify for the inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, gymnasts will be chosen from 15 invitationals that are part of the Nastia Liukin Cup Series. Each invitational will select a minimum of two athletes from their respective fields to compete in the Cup. The events participating in the NLCS are:
* CGA Parents Club Coaches Spectacular, Covington, Ky., Jan. 15-17
* John Macready and John Roethlisberger's Flip Fest Invitational, Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 15-18
* Cereal City Classic, Kalamazoo, Mich., Jan. 22-24
* Rock-n-Roll Classic, Broadview Heights, Ohio, Jan. 22-24
* Parkettes Invitational, Allentown, Pa., Jan. 29-31
* Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 29-31
* The Fiesta Bowl Classic, Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 5-7
* IGI Chicago Style Meet, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 12-14
* WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 13-14
* Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 19-21
* Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 19-21
* Excalibur Cup, Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 19-21
* Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 19-21
* Presidential Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Feb 19-21
* The Long Beach Open, Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 26-28.
Gymnasts who compete in the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup will receive a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the Tyson American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.
The inaugural Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup is scheduled for March 5, 2010, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., and will be televised on Universal Sports.
Tickets for the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup may be purchased in conjunction with a ticket purchase for the Tyson American Cup. For more information, go to www.nastialiukinsupergirlcup.com.