American Cup Returns With New Format, New Location

American Cup - FIG World Cup

FIG World Cup To Be Hosted At Nassau Coliseum Feb. 25-26
The USA Gymnastics Federation reports, that the 2005 American Cup takes on a new format and heightened importance when the world’s top gymnasts tumble into Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 2:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 26.
The 2005 American Cup will assume the status of an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup competition....

One of the world’s premier gymnastics events, the 2005 American Cup will assume the status of an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup competition. The World Cup will consist of preliminaries on Feb. 25 with the American Cup to take place on Feb. 26 televised live by NBC Sports.

The new format, which features individual event finals only, allows athletes placing among the top eight on each apparatus to earn World Cup points toward qualification to the bi-annual World Cup Final. Also at stake in the 30th American Cup is approximately $55,000 in prize money.

Bob Colarossi (USA)

“The American Cup has long been considered one of the world’s premier international events,” said USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi. “Transforming the American Cup to a World Cup format only enhances its prestige by opening the door to a larger field of talented international gymnasts. This is a very exciting time for USA Gymnastics, coming off the most significant and historic quadrennium ever,” Colarossi said. “As it has since 1976, the 2005 American Cup will serve as the launch pad for the next crop of Olympic hopefuls.”
The American Cup enjoyed a five-year run at New York’s Madison Square Garden from the inception of the event in 1976 through 1980, and returned to MSG in 1981-1984
and also in 2004 (Review).
2005 marks the first time the event has been held at Nassau Coliseum. Source: us-gymnastics

The American Cup is the second World Cup of the 2005-2006 circuit following the
>> DTB Pokal 2004 in Stuttgart in late November. After than the third event in this serie will be the >> 'Cottbus Tournament of Masters'.
The 2006 World Cup Final will be hosted by Brazil.