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Oct 15, 2009



USA SEVENS RUGBY, LAS VEGAS KICK OFF NEW PARTNERSHIP



Tournament Officials Celebrate New Olympic Status, Move to Las Vegas


(Las Vegas, NV) - Today USA Sevens Rugby kicked off its new partnership with Las Vegas in a press conference complete with show girls and the kick of a rugby ball over the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.  Civic and business leaders, as well as dozens of local rugby players were on hand to celebrate the tournament's move to the city.

The USA Sevens Rugby tournament, which was held in San Diego last year, will move to Las Vegas in a multi-year commitment beginning with its first tournament in February 2010.  The annual tournament draws thousands of international fans, and will enjoy even greater support since the October 9, 2009 announcement by the International Olympic Committee that Rugby Sevens will re-debut as an Olympic sport in 2016.  The sport's last appearance in the Olympics was in 1924, with the U.S. taking the gold medal.

"I'm thrilled to welcome rugby to Las Vegas," said Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman.  "With each one of these events, Las Vegas is becoming the sports capital of the world.  Having rugby here is integral to achieving that title."

Rugby "sevens" consists of seven players to a team, and is a fast-paced game which features some of the world's most elite athletes.  The annual tournament is the fourth stop on the International Rugby Board World Series.  The event includes a "fan festival," where the thousands of fans from around the world gather to support their teams.  International teams competing in the 2010 tournament include Argentina (2009 champions), Australia, France, England, Kenya, Japan and many others.

"Las Vegas and rugby are a great match," said Dan Lyle, tournament director of USA Sevens Rugby.  "We're thrilled to be here and are looking forward to a long-term relationship."

The 2010 USA Sevens tournament will take place February 13 and 14 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.  Tickets and additional information on "America's Rugby Weekend" are available at www.usasevens.com.

USA Sevens LLC owns and operates the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament and Fan Festival. Held annually in Las Vegas as part of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series, the event brings together a unique combination of world-class athletes, entertainment and diverse international cultures.



ABOUT THE LVCVA
The  Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 140,500 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 9.8 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.