Event will honor Bill Farrell and Olympic relationship with China

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Wrestling will stage its third NJ Night of Champions, Saturday, October 20th 2007 at the Ballroom of the Hilton Short Hills in Short Hills NJ. 

The USOC, in collaboration with USA Wrestling and a strong local organizing committee have developed the "Night of Champions" events to support American youth who dream of becoming the next generation of Olympic heroes.

USA Wrestling will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to wrestling legend Bill Farrell. 

Few people have has as positive an effect on the Olympic sport of wrestling as Bill Farrell. His management skills combined with his knowledge of the sport brought the United States to a level unsurpassed in the preceding 50 years. He coached the historic 1972 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team to three golds, two silvers and one bronze medal, one of the greatest American wrestling performances ever. 

He is currently manages the wrestling market for ASICS, USA Wrestling's national equipment sponsor. Farrell has been a longtime leader with the New York Athletic Club, one of the world's most successful wrestling organizations.

Farrell's greatest influence may have been behind the scenes. Farrell took unpopular positions that eventually resulted in fairness for his athletes who had faced discrimination that is almost unheard of today. In addition, amazingly, he was able to out-maneuver the powerful "iron curtain" deal making, ensuring American athletes could compete on a level playing field in many international competitions. 
	
A highlight of the evening is celebrating the Olympic relationship between the United States and China. Recently, USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth reminisced about the day when Chinese Organizing Committee called him to say they would refuse to join the Soviet Union Olympic Games Boycott and to would attend the 1984 Olympic Games in  Los Angeles. With the 1984 Games and perhaps the entire Olympic movement hanging in the balance, it was a defining moment.  

Now, more than 20 years later, China will host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, which is poised to be the most spectacular athletic event of the century. The 1984 Chinese counter-part to Peter Ueberroth will be honored for his role in China's historic decision to attend the Olympic Games in Los Angeles and to celebrate the upcoming Olympic Games.
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In keeping with the 1984 Theme, the 1984 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Teams will be honored. Also, the team members from the 1972 Olympic Freestyle Team that was coached by Farrell have been invited to witness his Lifetime Achievement Award presentation.

It will be a tremendous night for the Olympic movement and the sport of wrestling.

For more information please go to WWW.NJNIGHTOFCHAMPIONS.COM or call Larry Nugent, USA Wrestling's Director of Development at 719-598-8181 or e-mail at lnugent@usawrestling.com. 

To contact the local organizing committee, call Steven John Jastrabek at 973-769-1135 or e-mail at stevenjohnsalons@yahoo.com