NBC Picks BMX to Celebrate 100 Days & Counting to the 2008 Olympics

April 30, 2008- NBC's "The Today Show" Celebrates 100 days to the Olympics

It may have been the heart of the East Coast; New York city, but the Manhattan skyline was host to a sport that was born on the dirt lots of Southern, California. BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross), one of the first action sports was being featured on NBC's "The Today Show".

As part of it's coverage of the 2008 Olympics, NBC has chosen BMX to be the lead in the 100 days and counting coverage. The concrete jungle outside the NBC studio in Rockefeller Square had been transformed overnight by a team led by the ABA (American Bicycle Association). The demonstration track was just 120' in length, it featured a two-person electronic starting gate, had a roller section and a 16' double jump. It has taken over 30 years for the sport of BMX to reach such a monumental milestone, but there it was; dirt jumps and banners in the heart of NYC.

The dirt jumps and the gate sprinting for the NBC camera crew is something that Kyle Bennett, Donny Robinson and Arielle Martin will become comfortable accommodating. New sponsors have found each of them as the Olympic games approach. For the 2008 USA BMX team the dirt in Beijing is approaching quickly. It is now reality that Olympic gold can be a goal of every young BMXer.

“After 32 years of organizing and promoting the sport in the United States, the American Bicycle Association is excited about the exposure, notoriety and legitimacy the Olympics will bring to the sport.” stated B.A. Anderson, ABA Vice President.

When BMX was first organized in the 1970's by the ABA it was difficult to find a kid who didn't race. The kids who didn't race at least had a BMX bike, now those legions of boys and girls who were the sports first wave can watch BMX become an Olympic sport.

It was said that more than a few Wall Street types and Madison Avenue hot shots stopped to see the action that morning. They were heard to say that they raced BMX when they were young, yeah the good things all come back around!

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