The Sports Corp Will Provide Future Support For The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
COLORADO SPRINGS, August 12,
2008----The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and the Colorado Springs Sports
Corporation have agreed to a new working partnership that will assist in
supporting the future of the nation’s second oldest motor sports event and
Colorado Springs sports hallmark.
The Sports Corp will provide support
services for the “Race To The Clouds” on an annual basis that will include a
variety of non-race day operational programs – media support, publicity,
accreditation, and sponsor fulfillment.
“As we look forward to future of our
great event, we can imagine with a sense of pride the 100th
Anniversary of the competition in 2022,” said PPIHC Chairman Bob Gillis. “The
Hill Climb has been supported and held together since its inception in 1916 by
a passionate and dedicated team of individuals who love the event and who
unselfishly give their time and energies to its success on an annual basis. To
assist their efforts and contributions, we are bringing the Sports Corp team on
board as operational partners in this effort for the future.”
Doug Martin, the National Director of
State Games for the Sports Corp, will assume the role of Director of Support
Services for the PPIHC and coordinate the organization’s programs for the
event. Martin will work with Gillis and the Board of Directors of the Hill
Climb and its staff in the new partnership, which features the ongoing
involvement of the Sports Corp staff.
Martin joined The Sports Corp in 2003 and
has directed the tremendously successful State Games of America in 2005 and
2007, as well as the Rocky Mountain State Games and the recent 2008 State Games
of the West, which drew over 7,300 athletes from 13 Western States to the city.
The 1999 graduate of Montana State University will direct next summer’s 2009
State Games of America, which will bring some 10,000 athletes from 47 states to
Colorado Springs.
The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
is proud to join with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in this important
partnership,” said Sports Corp Chairman Dave Palenchar.
“A major component of the Sports Corp mission is to support sporting events
that contribute to the quality of life for the citizens of the Pikes Peak
region, and this is a perfect fit for us. “
“The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
is an event the defines the rich legacy of sport in our city, along with the
United States Olympic Committee, our great college and professional teams, and
the family of more than 50 domestic and international
sport governing bodies that call Colorado Springs home,” said Sports Corp
President & CEO Tom Osborne. “That’s why we have signed on to assist the
race, and we anticipate its positive and successful future.”
The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
Created in 1978 as the United
States Olympic Committee relocated from New York City to Colorado Springs and
staged its inaugural National Sports Festival at the foot of Pikes Peak, the
Sports Corporation has grown and prospered over nearly three decades to become
a driving force in the agenda for amateur and Olympic sport, as well as for the
state’s youth.
Its mission is to attract,
retain and support sports organizations and businesses…support youth sports
through the recognition of athletes and coaches, and provide financial
assistance to enabled disadvantaged youth to participate in sports programs…to
create, attract and promote sports events that contribute to the quality of
life for the citizens of the region…and to support the economy of Colorado
Springs by promoting the region as a destination for sports business,
competition, and meetings.
As part of its proactive agenda,
the Sports Corp has played a major role in promoting and assisting in the
staging of Air Force Academy and Colorado College sports, NCAA Ice Hockey
Regional Championships, the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, USA
Boxing and USA Archery National Championships, the 2008 U.S. Senior Open Golf
classic, and many other high-profile events.
The Sports Corp co-hosted the
very successful 2008 NCAA West Ice Hockey Regionals
at the World Arena, and teamed with USA Boxing to host the 2007 U.S. National
Boxing Championships. It hosts annual Football, Baseball and Ice Hockey
luncheons to promote the Sky Sox, Colorado College, Air Force, UCCS, CU, CSU
and other regional sports.
Its
signature celebrity event remains the annual Colorado Springs Sports Hall of
Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony each autumn at the World Arena.
The
Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Leadership
Chairman: Dave Palenchar, Senior VP, The El Pomar Foundation
Vice-Chair: Carolyn Kruse, U.S. Figure Skating
Treasurer: Walt Glover, Chief Financial
Officer, USOC
Secretary: Stan Kensinger, Director, The Olive
Real Estate Group
President & CEO: Tom Osborne
Immediate Past-President: Laura
Muir, Momentum Advertising & Public Relations
Board Members
Bill Berenz, American National Bank
Scott Blackmun, Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
Ken Ralph, Athletic Director,
Colorado College
Randy Gradishar,
The Phil Long Dealerships
Chuck Delich,
Vice-President, Wells Fargo Insurance
Mike Kazmierski,
President & CEO, The Colorado Springs Economic
Development Corp.
Jerry Mayes, General Manager,
Coca-Cola of Colorado Springs
Scott McKibben,
President & Publisher, The Gazette
Mary Ellen McNally, Civic Leader
& Volunteer
Lou Mellini, General Manager,
KILO & The Eagle
Dr. Hans Mueh
(Liaison), Athletic Director, U.S. Air Force Academy
Terry Sullivan, President & CEO, Experience Colorado Springs
Dave Csintyan,
CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
Fred Whitacre,
WhitacreWORKS,
Founding President & GM, The Sky Sox
Martin Wood, COO, The
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Board of Directors
Chairman
of the Board, Bob Gillis
TCI
Tire Centers – General Mgr.
Vice
Chair -Tom Osborne
The
Sports Corp- President & CEO
Past
Chairman Lou Mellini
KILO/The Eagle – General Mgr.
2nd
Vice Chair Phill Emmert
Citadel
Broadcasting – General Mgr.
Secretary/Treasurer,
Peter Freytag
Ed
Sauer - President
The
Bank at Broadmoor
Michael
Cimino
Phil
Long Ford
Maryscot Bibb – Director of Media & Public
Relations
U.S. Figure Skating
Mike
Bukowski – Vice President
Kurt
Hansen - Chief Operating Officer
Motor
Sports Media Inc.
Robert
Nankivell - Engineer Manager
Atmel
Douglas Nicoll -Vice President
E agle Waste
& Recycling Services, Inc.
Arthur
W Porter - Attorney at Law
Arthur W. Porter, Professional
Corporation
Don
Riggle- Consultant DR Services
Ted
Sayer – General Manager
Frederick A. Veitch-Vice President
Norwood Development Group
Mike Moran,
Director of Communications
The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
1631 Mesa Ave., Suite E
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 634-7333, ext.1011