The Bank of America Olympic Festival at Rockefeller Center, presented by Bank of America – the official bank Sponsor of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team – will celebrate the 2004 Olympic Games with broadcasts of the major events from Athens via jumbotrons on the façade of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, programming from NYC2012 which includes, live interactive Olympic sport demonstrations, cultural performances, an Olympic timeline exhibit, including a collection of vintage posters from every modern Olympiad, marking the journey from Athens 1896 through Athens 2004; and an exhibit of New York’s plan for the 2012 Olympic Games, and much more, from August 13 through the 22nd.
The Bank of America Olympic Festival will kick off by showing on the large screens the Opening Ceremonies from Athens on August 13th at 8:00 PM. In the 10 days that follow, NYC2012, the committee leading New York’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012 created free, fun-filled family activities each day from noon to 10:00 PM, including:
‘As the official bank Sponsor of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team and supporter of NYC2012, Bank of America is proud to present the Bank of America Olympic Festival which will help to bring the action in Athens to the people of New York,’ said Carter McClelland, New York Market President, Bank of America. ‘We are especially pleased to have U.S. Olympians join us for this event and showcase the city’s great enthusiasm for the Olympic movement.’
‘Live sites in Olympic Host Cities that bring the Games alive on the streets with public viewing of the Games on giant screens have been extremely successful at recent Olympic Games. New York is thrilled to participate in staging a live site and Olympic festival in the heart of New York at Rockefeller Center during the Athens 2004 Games-allowing thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to feel the energy of Athens and showcasing the city’s enthusiasm for the Olympic Games,’ said Daniel L. Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding and Founder of NYC2012.
Rockefeller Center will be transformed into a Greek-themed oasis with lush Mediterranean landscapes and Greek-inspired plantings and décor in the Channel Gardens for the occasion. Also offered will be the ‘Plaza Grill’ of the Bank of America Olympic Festival that will offer hamburgers, hotdogs and other snacks for the public on the plaza streets.
‘We are thrilled to debut the Bank of America Olympic Festival at Rockefeller Center,’ said Thomas Madden, Managing Director of Tishman Speyer Properties. ‘We hope that the public will take advantage of the great activities we have planned, and will come to watch and enjoy the Olympic Games in midtown Manhattan. There is no better way to participate in the excitement of the Games, short of being in Athens.’
In its continued support of Team USA and the Bank of America Olympic Festival, Bank of America will add to the excitement with a ‘Medal Counter’ that will allow passersby to keep track of how many medals the U.S. wins each day during the Olympic Games. The Bank of America tent will also include information on its ‘Hometown Hopefuls Program’, which is helping athletes’ families get to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Greece, and providing resources to make it easier for them to support their athlete.
Through the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls Program, Bank of America is providing a discount travel program including airfare, event tickets, accommodations, and meals to support the more than 550 U.S. athletes and their families that are expected to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games.
Visitors to the Bank of America Olympic Festival will have the opportunity to write messages of support via kiosks to the U.S. athletes.
‘We are proud to support and celebrate the men and women who are representing our country at the Olympic Games in Greece,’ said Carter McClelland. ‘They are America’s team and the embodiment of higher standards. We are pleased to offer the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls Program to help athletes’ families get to Athens and provide resources to make it easier for them to support their stars while far from home.’
The 2004 Olympic Games from Athens will be broadcast at The Bank of America Olympic Festival at Rockefeller Center in a partnership with the networks of NBC, including CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, USA, and Telemundo.
NYC2012 is the committee leading New York’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012. New York is one of five cities vying for the right to be selected Host City for the 2012 Games by the International Olympic Committee on July 6, 2005 in Singapore. The other bid cities are London, Madrid, Moscow and Paris.
For further information contact NYC2012 on (212) 953-2012