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For more information, contact: ST. LOUIS MAKES THE CUT OF FINALIST CITIES FOR THE 2006 U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS ST. LOUIS — Aug. 14, 2002 — The U.S. Figure Skating Association announced today that St. Louis is among four finalist cities bidding on the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The association’s Site Selection Committee reviewed bids from six cities and narrowed its selection to four: St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Minneapolis. Detroit and Nashville, Tenn., did not make the cut. The Heartland Inter-Club — an organization made up of seven figure skating clubs — and the St. Louis Sports Commission submitted a bid for the Championships in early July. The bid document highlighted the strengths and assets St. Louis offers as a host city: an experienced and enthusiastic local figure skating community; a pair of outstanding facilities — the Savvis Center for the competition and America’s Center for practice ice; and a downtown package that offers maximum convenience for participants and fans. Now comes the next step: a site survey by USFSA’s Site Selection Committee. The six-member group plans to visit St. Louis in late September. A final decision on the 2006 host will be made in November. "Obviously, this is great news for all of us who are hoping to bring the Figure Skating Championships to St. Louis," said Sports Commission President Frank Viverito. "To borrow a little figure skating terminology, we’ve hit a clean landing on our first jump. And much of that can be attributed to the way our area figure skating clubs have come together to rally behind this bid. They are integral to attracting this event and making it a success in St. Louis. All of us now look forward to showcasing our community to the selection committee when it makes its site visit next month." In 2006, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will precede the Winter Olympics. The Staples Center in Los Angeles hosted the event this year. |
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