For more information, contact:

Doug Bray
St. Louis Sports Commission
314-206-7388

Lisa Bedian
City of St. Peters
636-477-6600 ext. 229

Cindy Kerber
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Diving
Local Organizing Committee
314-749-9125

U.S. OLYMPIC DIVING TRIALS TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LAURA WILKINSON IN TOWN THIS WEEKEND TO HELP KICK OFF TICKET SALES

ST. LOUIS -- Nov. 13, 2003 -- All-session tickets for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Diving go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday (Nov. 14).  Fans can purchase tickets through MetroTix by calling 314-534-1111 or by visiting www.metrotix.com.  Tickets may also be purchased in person at the St. Peters Rec-Plex or by calling the Rec-Plex at 636-939-2386.

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials take place June 9-13 at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.  Approximately 100 of America's best divers will compete for 12 spots on the U.S. Olympic Team, which will represent the United States at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.  The Trials field will include Laura Wilkinson, who won the gold medal in the 10-meter platform event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

All-session tickets for the Trials are $130, $110 and $95.  They provide admission to all eight sessions of the competition, which includes men's and women's platform, and men's and women's springboard.  Single-session tickets - if available - will go on sale in the spring.  With the seating capacity set at only 2,500 for the Trials, fans are encouraged to order tickets early.

MEET THE GOLD MEDALIST:

On Saturday (Nov. 15), Wilkinson will be part of a ticket kickoff event at Westfield Shoppingtown Mid Rivers, 1600 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, in St. Peters.  The 12-time national champion will meet and greet fans, and sign autographs from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the upper level near customer service.  U.S. Olympic Diving Trials merchandise will also be available for purchase. 

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials will be part of St. Louis' yearlong civic celebration that commemorates the centennial of the Olympics and World's Fair, the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark expedition, and the region's recent revitalization accomplishments.  In 1904, St. Louis became the first American city to host the Summer Games.  That year, the sport of diving made its Olympic debut.  U.S. Diving's gold medal tradition began when St. Louisan George Sheldon won the men's platform event at a man-made lake just west of Forest Park.  Since then, U.S. Diving has compiled the highest medal-winning percentage of all American Olympic sports.

The St. Louis Sports Commission, City of St. Peters and the St. Peters Rec-Plex are the local hosts for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.   For more information on the event, visit www.divingtrials.com.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Diving
Tentative Schedule
Wednesday, June 9 Noon Men's Platform Final #1
  7 p.m. Women's Platform Final #1
Thursday, June 10 7 p.m. Men's Springboard Final #1
Friday, June 11 Noon Women's Springboard Final #1
  7 p.m. Men's Springboard Final #2
Saturday, June 12 2 p.m. Women's Springboard Final #2
  7 p.m. Men's Platform Final #2
Sunday, June 13 6 p.m. Women's Platform Final #2