by
Beat the Streets, Inc. | Apr 21, 2011
“Beat The Streets,” the New York City-based not-for-profit organization that has brought wrestling to thousands of middle and high school students in New York City, along with USA Wrestling and the New York City Department of Education, today announced their most unique event ever, a freestyle wrestling match featuring some of the world’s greatest Olympic-class wrestlers, to be held in Duffy Square in New York’s Times Square on Thursday, May 5.
“Crossroads of The World” To Serve As Unique Setting For
Two of the World’s Athletic Powers As Part of The 2011 “Beat The Streets”
Gala
“Beat The Streets,” the New York
City-based not-for-profit organization that has brought wrestling to thousands
of middle and high school students in New York City, along with USA Wrestling
and the New York City Department of Education, today announced their most unique
event ever, a freestyle wrestling match featuring some of the world’s greatest
Olympic-class wrestlers, to be held in Duffy Square in New York’s Times Square
on Thursday, May 5.
The freestyle wrestling dual meet between defending
team world champion Russia and the United States, will be the featured
competition for the 2011 Beat the Streets Gala and Benefit, which will be held
following the dual meet at the Hard Rock Café. It is being billed as The Battle
on Broadway, with “New York Is Wrestling” as the theme of this year’s event,
which traditionally raises several hundred thousand dollars for programs in five
boroughs of New York City. The event is free to the public, and will also be
streamed live on TheMat.com by USA Wrestling and be shown on the single largest
face LED screen in Times Square.
“There is no grander setting than Times
Square to feature some of the world’s greatest athletes and to raise awareness
for our program, which has given thousands of boys and girls the ability to be
more physically fit and learn the life lessons that are essential for success in
today’s ever-changing world,” said Mike Novogratz, Beat The Streets Chairman of
the Board. “This event, outdoors in Duffy Square, will provide us with a very
unique way to expose our program to thousands who may not be aware of our work,
so we are very appreciative of all involved from the City and the Times Square
Alliance, as well as USA Wrestling, for helping make this happen.”
“We
are very proud to be able to help present this very unique event as a way to
grow awareness for the sport and all the good work ‘Beat The Streets’ does for
kids in New York City,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “It
will be a great setting for some of the world’s greatest athletes to showcase
their skills.”
This is the second straight year in which a major
Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets
Gala. In 2010, an all-star challenge featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on
the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Over
1,200 donors from over 26 states attended the event.
A card of exhibition
matches will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Duffy Square, featuring young athletes who
wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers
from the Public School Athletic League.
Final lineups for Team USA and
the Russian National Team will be announced shortly.
The USA vs. Russia
freestyle dual meet will follow at 6:00 p.m. in Duffy Square. Russia is the
reigning World Team Champion in freestyle wrestling and is a traditional
wrestling rival for the United States. USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meets go
back to the 1960’s, and are among the most popular spectator events in
wrestling.
The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for
the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There
will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the
function.
2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA
New York Is
Wrestling
Battle on Broadway
Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in
New York, N.Y., May 5
3:00 p.m. – Exhibition Matches – Beat the
Streets and PSAL wrestlers
6:00 p.m. – USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling
dual meet
7:30 p.m. – Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Hard Rock
Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, with special musical guest John
Rich
ABOUT BEAT THE STREETS
The Mission of the Beat the Streets
Wrestling Program is to expand and develop wrestling in the New York City
Metropolitan area from the youth through the Olympic level. Our dream is to
provide opportunities for boys and girls in the activity of wrestling, building
lifelong skills. If you share this mission and would like to volunteer to help,
please contact info@beat-the-streets.org.