Nintendo of America launched Wii Games: Summer 2010, a first-of-its-kind tournament inviting consumers to get up and get playing with motion-control video games for the Wii™ system. New Jersey’s Liberty State Park was the site of a large-scale kick-off event, featuring an opening ceremony and an appearance by Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. Kids, teens, adults and seniors participated in team challenges in games such as Wii Sports Resort™, Wii Fit™ Plus, New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii and Mario Kart™ Wii.

Serving as the official Wii Games: Summer 2010 Ambassador, Johnson encouraged attendees to enjoy the social, physically active fun of the Wii console and cheered on video game legends Mario and Luigi in a live Hula Hoop® challenge with the game/software Wii Fit Plus.

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New York, NY, July 20, 2010 – SHADE GLOBAL Inc, a sports marketing and athlete representation agency in New York, announces two-time Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm, the 2004 All-Around Gold Medalist, will come out of retirement to begin training in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Paul Hamm is a two-time Olympian and four-time National Champion gymnast with over 15 major titles to his name. 

Paul became the first American male to win the Olympic All-Around Gold medal in gymnastics in 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games.  He captured headlines around the world after suffering a fall on vault to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic gymnastics history with spectacular performances on the parallel bars and the high bar.  Paul won the Silver on high bar, and, along with his twin brother Morgan, led the U.S. Men’s team to the Silver medal in the team competition.

In 2003 Paul made history by becoming the first-ever U.S. man to win the World Championship All-Around title in gymnastics.  The U.S. Men’s Team won Silver and Paul also shared the floor exercise Gold.

In August 2007, Paul and his brother Morgan competed for the first time since the 2004 Olympic Games to begin their journey to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  Though Paul was named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, he was forced to withdraw prior to the Games due to injury.

Paul graduated from Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business in June 2007, earning a degree in Accounting with a 3.9 overall GPA.   He spent the past two years working at a financial management firm in Chicago before giving into the gut feeling that his gymnastics career wasn’t done forever.

Now more determined than ever, the Olympic Champion is ready to hang up his suit and tie, and will come out of retirement to begin training in an effort to make the 2012 Olympic team. (read more)

Erin Hamlin is one of 14 nominees for the 80th annual Sullivan Award. Nominees include athletes who won titles in sports from luge world championships to NCAA basketball to track and field titles.

The AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the USA.  Presented annually since 1930, the Sullivan also is based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.

The winner will be announced April 14 in New York. Voting is open through March 31.

VOTE HERE: Click to cast a ballot.   

Erin Hamlin of Remsen, N.Y., won the 2009 World Championship in women's luge, breaking Germany's 16-year winning streak as she became the first U.S. woman to ever medal at the Luge World Championships. This marked the first time in 99 races that a German woman was not the top finisher.

Erin’s World Championship win over the German’s in 2009 was a momentous milestone on her journey to success.  In that same year, Erin also won her second consecutive U.S. National Championship (she has since won a third in 2010).

Also in 2009, Erin was named the USA Luge “Female Athlete of the Year” and United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Athlete of the Month (February).

Erin is not only a champion on the track, but off the ice as well.  Erin takes great pride in giving back to others and maintaining close ties with community relations.  Whether she is speaking to groups to share her experience and encourage others, lending a helping hand or serving as a role model, Erin’s accomplishments and character are an inspiration to all. (read more)

David Klatt, NBCOlympics.com

American gymnast Shawn Johnson celebrated her 18th birthday on Tuesday with the Olympic torch held high in the streets of Calgary.

Shortly after she finished running her leg of the relay, Johnson, who won a gold and three silvers in Beijing in 2008, said there was no doubting it: Canadians are psyched for the Winter Olympics to begin.

"This definitely will rank up there with my top five Olympic memories," says Johnson.

The sights and sounds make it easy to see why.

Canadian fans lined the streets of the 1988 Winter Olympic host city decked out in red and white. Adults and children alike cheered loudly. Some of them were wearing wigs, Johnson said. Many asked her if they could touch the torch.

The relay leg kicks off the Des Moines native's first Winter Games experience with one of the greatest Olympic honors.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," she said.

Johnson says she's looking forward to visiting Vancouver next month. Apolo Ohno is among her favorite Winter Olympians, so short track is definitely high on her list of events to see. She's also hoping to catch some snowboarding action at Cypress Mountain.

"Louie Vito is a good friend," says Johnson, adding she has her fingers crossed the American snowboarder will qualify to compete in Vancouver's halfpipe. (read more)

Gold Medal Greetings Announces Launch of New Voice Greeting Service

Gold Medal Greetings (GMG) announces the launch of a new service offering custom telephone greetings from some of the most famous and decorated names in the sport of gymnastics. Customers can order a pre-recorded message from a gymnastics celebrity as a gift to be delivered via telephone on the day and time of their selection. World-class athletes who have triumphed at the highest levels of the sport are included in the program. Gold Medal Greetings has signed a world-class roster of charter athletes including Olympic Champions Shawn Johnson, Shannon Miller, Carly Patterson and Paul Hamm, Olympic medalist Jonathan Horton, World Champion and Olympian Chellsie Memmel, and three-time Olympian Blaine Wilson. In addition to standard messages, a CustomCall option will also be available for customers to personalize the celebrity greeting with a personal message. Greetings delivered in the U.S. are $8.99 and $9.99 for International and CustomCalls. A portion from each order goes to the charity of the athlete’s choosing. “Gold Medal Greetings helps spark the celebration of favorite days and occasions throughout the year,” said Tanya Jacoby, spokesperson for Gold Medal Greetings. (read more)