Tumbling, Tosses and Twists… VCEC hosts Canada’s 2nd Annual Cheerleading Championships

Vancouver, BC (February 28, 2008) — This coming weekend, March 1 and 2, 2008, 2,500 top cheerleaders and dancers from across North America will be participating in the 2008 Sea to Sky International Cheerleading and Dance Championship at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.

After an extremely successful 2007 event, this two-day event is returning to the VCEC this year as the largest of its kind in Canada, and will host teams from high schools, All Star Programs, colleges and universities from across Canada and the US.

“The Sea to Sky Championships have become a key event in the eyes of the International All Star Federation that oversees cheerleading from around the world,” says event organizer Liz Gigante Ulrich, Director, International Cheer Alliance (ICA) and former BC Lions Cheer Team Director and Coach.

The Sea to Sky International Cheerleading Championships is now able to award Bids to the 2008 Worlds to the top finishing Level 5 and 6 teams. This honour is equivalent to being selected as a PGA Tournament for the professional golf circuit.

“The Road to Worlds portion of the championship will see 12 Cheer Teams vying for two $10,000 Partial Paid Bids, two “At Large” bids and two International Bids,“ added Gigante-Ulrich. This portion of the Championship will take place at 7 pm on Saturday evening at the VCEC.

The championship includes 65 programs with 240 performances on Saturday, and 130 performances on Sunday. Athletes will be judged on a variety of criteria including stunts, technical skills, and execution. The ICA is expecting more than 3,000 spectators, and the event is open to the public. Tickets are available at the door and cost $15 for a one-day ticket or $25 for a weekend pass.

“There will be many athletes of all ages and levels participating this year, and it’s truly a unique opportunity to see some incredible talent,” says Barbara Maple, VCEC President.

“It was a great event last year, and follows in our tradition of hosting some very unique sporting events over the last 20 years of our operation, including the World Weightlifting Championships in 2003 and the Davis Cup in 1990, where we converted our exhibit halls into a tennis court.”

About the VCEC

Since opening in 1987, the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre has been British Columbia’s flagship convention facility. In fiscal year 2007, the VCEC hosted 350 events, attracted 745,000 delegate days, and generated more than $240 million in economic activity for the province of B.C. When its major expansion completes, the VCEC will offer a combined total of nearly 500,000 square feet (46,450 square metres) of function space and will serve as the Main Media Centre for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.

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