EVENT:
Olympians from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Wrestling and Rowing teams will visit the New York Stock Exchange on Fri., June 20 and ring The Closing Bell.
Beijing is the Host City for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008.
Background: USA Olympic Rowing
USRowing national team members Wyatt Allen, Dan Beery, Matt Deakin, Beau Hoopman, Jason Read and Bryan Volpenhein, and men's head coach Mike Teti will ring The Closing Bell at the NYSE.
The six rowers were members of the men's eight that set a world record and won Olympic gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The victory gave the U.S. its 12th Olympic gold medal in the men's eight, the team's but first since 1964. The veteran group has 37 national team appearances and 22 Olympic andor world medals between them. Since becoming men's head coach in 1997, Teti has coached the men's eight to five gold and eight total world championships and Olympic medals. As a rower, he was a 12-time national team member and three-time Olympian. These six athletes are in contention for a spot on the 2008 team, which is in its final days of selection. The team will be named June 27th.
Background: USA Olympic Wrestling
USA Wrestling team members, Marcie Van Dusen of San Bernadino, Cal., Daniel Cormier of Lafayette, La.and Brad Vering of Lincoln, Neb., along with coach and 1980 Olympian Lee Kemp will ring The Closing Bell at the NYSE.
The three were part of the 12-person team that qualified for Beijing last weekend in Las Vegas. The group is visiting the NY area to help promote the "Fuel The Dream" initiative, a program which will help raise funds to enable families of Olympic athletes to go to Beijing to support the team. It is the largest family fundraising effort by a National Governing Body in US Olympic history, and will be supported by both corporate and individual donations. The Olympic wrestling team has won the third-most medals for the United States since the Olympics began.
WHEN/WHERE: FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008 - NYSE - Security Checkpoint at Exchange & Broad Streets
3:30 p.m. Media escorted into the building for bell ringing
4:00 p.m. The Closing Bell is rung
More information on archived and upcoming events at the NYSE can be found in the NYSE Events Calendar.
CONTACT:
Media interested in covering the bell ringing MUST contact Annmarie Gioia at 212.656.5437 or agioia@nyx.com in order to obtain entry into the building.
WEBCAST:
A live webcast of The Closing Bell (beginning at 3:59 p.m.) will be available on the homepage of nyse.com.