Date:

February 14, 2002

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831
Bill Wolf, USARS public relations

LINCOLN, Neb. - Public awareness of the 2002 USA Roller Sports national championships reached a new plateau at an early morning breakfast at the Cornhusker Hotel, official host hotel for the three-week event July 21-Aug. 11. The breakfast, described as the "official kick-off" for the in-line speed and figure skating championships, was designed to create a direct participation among many of the Lincoln business leaders and USA Roller Sports. The breakfast served a two-fold purpose by introducing the community to the overall size and value of the event to the city, as well as offering businesses the opportunity to become part of the competition as sponsors of the event.

Lou Marciani (right), USARS executive director, greets Lincoln Mayor Don Wesely at the national championship breakfast Tuesday, Feb. 12. Photo by Bill Wolf

Among the speakers during the 45-minute breakfast included Lincoln Mayor Don Wesely, Steve Schmidt, vice president of Union Bank and Trust, Troy Terwilliger, sales manager of the Cornhusker Hotel, and Brock Kuester, USARS national director of marketing and sales. In addition, the nearly 60 community members attending the breakfast witnessed a 5-minute highlight tape produced by Salmini Films which was aired by Fox Sports Net of the 2001 national championships in Pensacola, Fla.

Following the breakfast and program, local television and radio did on-site interviews with Lou Marciani, USARS executive director. Marciani gave a brief explanation of the impact the championship brings to the city of Lincoln. It's expected nearly 7,000 competitors, coaches and family members will attend this year's event. With the average stay in the host city ranging from seven to 10 days, the financial impact for Lincoln could exceed five million dollars.

"I believe it was an overall success," Kuester said. "I hope we created an awareness to business men and women in the Lincoln area so they better understand the type of impact on the city by having a national governing body conduct a major national championship right here in Lincoln."

Kuester said Mayor Wesely was thrilled to be a part of this major event and brought a very positive message to the group. "Certainly having the backing of the mayor's office is a major factor in the success of this year's championships," he said

USA Roller Sports, which is located in Lincoln, is officially recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports as the national governing body of competitive roller sport.