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U.S. Olympic Team Trials to Feature Top Athletes and More in Oklahoma City
04/02/08 - OKLAHOMA CITY

Oklahoma City will host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Flatwater Sprint at Regatta Park, April 18-20. The U.S. Olympic Trials will determine the rankings of athletes vying for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games.

The nation's top canoe/kayak athletes are expected to compete during the weekend including Olympian Carrie Johnson, the top U.S. performer at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and Rami Zur, a competitor in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

"This is the first major canoe/kayak event ever in Oklahoma," said Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation Executive Director Mike Knopp. "We've established the Oklahoma River as a premier rowing destination, and now we're attracting national paddling events. This is a significant development for our venue and our city."

Athletes will begin arriving Wednesday, April 16, to register and train on the river. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 20.

"With the state-of-the-art Chesapeake Boathouse, the Oklahoma River and the excitement of the community, Oklahoma has built a great reputation with athletes, coaches and organizers," said David Yarborough, Executive Director of USA Canoe/Kayak. "I'm sure we'll feel an enormous amount of support as we cheer on our athletes to the Olympic Games."

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will also feature the interactive "Olympic Experience", showcasing ten Olympic sports.

Students will visit Regatta Park and the Chesapeake Boathouse for the "Catch the Olympic Spirit" youth initiative Friday, April 18. Fitness will be the theme of the day as students participate in a fitness walk and the Olympic Experience interactive exhibits before watching the Friday morning races of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Saturday afternoon, sponsor teams will participate in the Corporate Dragon Boat Challenge. Teams of 20 paddlers will maneuver and race the ornate dragon boats for office bragging rights. Corporate rowing and dragon boat racing have become an annual tradition for Oklahoma companies.

Admission to the event is free for children five and under, $5 per day for children six to 12 and $10 per day for visitors 13 and older. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. The weekend will also feature a children's area with inflatables and Devon River Cruiser boat rides for $5 per ticket.

The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is part of the OKC Boathouse Foundation Champion Series, a series of nine events over a period of three years. The series includes the 2008 ACRA National Championship in May, the 2008 USA Canoe/Kayak National Championship in August, the 2008 Oklahoma Regatta Festival, which includes the Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma, in October and the OKC Boathouse International Triathlon, also an Olympic qualifier, in May of 2009.

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