Date: 08/07/2007

Local Students to Carry Olympic Flag During Symbolic Torch Relay

Contacts:
Pat Lopes Harris, San José State University (408-924-1748)
Lance Lew, NBC 11 (408-582-2073)
Debbie McKenzie, Children's Discovery Museum (408-298-5437 ext. 202)

Get map, directions to event.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The year countdown to the start of the 2008 Olympic Games will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 8, at Discovery Meadows near the Children's Discovery Museum at 180 Woz Way, San José.

Kindergarten through second graders from Merryhill Elementary School's Camp Zone in San José and middle and high school students from the museum's Summer of Service will join together for a symbolic torch relay and walk with an Olympic flag. Christina Jones, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic synchronized swimming team and a Bay area resident, will also appear at the event, which will be sponsored by San José State, the museum and NBC 11.

San José State has a rich Olympic heritage and has long been supportive of America's Olympic Movement. More than 600 U.S. Olympic Team members, coaches and officials will gather at San José State during summer 2008 for final team briefings, apparel distribution, medical screenings and training before departing for Beijing, where the games will be held August 8-24.

Also on August 8, 2007, the stations and networks of NBC Universal begin the countdown to Beijing. In addition to the celebration in San José, NBC cable and broadcast networks will air special announcements and NBC stations will carry a special preview program looking ahead to the 2008 games. Watch the Olympic Zone hosted by NBC11's Diane Dwyer at 7:30 p.m.

NBC 11 is owned by NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBC 11 gives viewers control, choice and convenience by providing the latest news and programming online and on-air. Dedicated to serving the communities in our viewing area, NBC 11 supports more than 100 community events throughout the Bay area each year.

Summer of Service at the Children's Discovery Museum of San José is a unique summer camp providing participants with practical and meaningful hands-on experiences in the community. The museum is the largest children's museum in the West and rated among the top five children's museums in the United States and top 12 science museums in the world. The museum is currently hosting the traveling exhibit Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog (please see below for trademark information). More on the museum.

Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog was created by Minnesota Children's Museum together with Scholastic Entertainment. (c) 2007 Scholastic Entertainment Inc. SCHOLASTIC and logos are trademarks of Scholastic Inc. CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG and logos are trademarks of Norman Bridwell. All rights reserved.

San Jose State -- Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 4,000 employees -- is part of the California State University system. SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city. More information.