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)

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)

An Unprecedented Assembly of Performers, Olympians, Philanthropists and Actors to Preside Over Seven Neighborhoods on the World's Largest and Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship.

When Royal Caribbean International officially names its newest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, the global cruise line will continue its tradition of innovation by putting a new twist on one of maritime's longest standing traditions. While normally bestowing the honor of godmother on one special person, Royal Caribbean has chosen seven extraordinary godmothers to represent the seven signature neighborhoods onboard Oasis of the Seas, one of which is Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. Each of the seven godmothers was chosen because they personify strength of character, exemplify the spirit of giving, and are role models for men, women and children alike. The godmothers include: Shawn Johnson, four-time medalist at the 2008 Olympic games for women's gymnastics and cancer philanthropist, who in addition to serving as a godmother for Oasis of the Seas, will be granting wishes onboard as part of her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Gloria Estefan, Michelle Kwan, Jane Seymour, Dara Torres, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Daisy Fuentes The seven women will take their posts to officially name the ship at a ceremony during a one-night inaugural celebration-fundraiser onboard Oasis of the Seas to benefit the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. (read more)