International Youth Festival to Welcome Athletes From Over 20 Countries to Cleveland

Online, May 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Cleveland, OH (May 21, 2010) - Cleveland is fast becoming one of the nation's most attractive cities to host world-class sporting events, drawing athletes from across the globe. This summer, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will host the fifth annual Continental Cup now under the name of the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health International Youth Sports Festival. The Festival has grown at an impressive pace and will be comprised of three sports including the AC Milan Continental Cup (soccer), Cleveland Indians Charities Continental Cup (baseball) and the newly added Cleveland Cavaliers Continental Cup (basketball).

In its four years, the AC Milan Continental Cup has seen the number of tournament teams escalate from 32 teams in its inaugural year in 2006 to over 130 teams in 2009. This included 38 international teams in 2009 from Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia and India. Last year, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission partnered with Cleveland Indians Charities and added baseball to the mix which was the first step in developing the tournament into a true international youth sports festival. Ten teams participated in the U14 baseball tournament, including teams from Lithuania and the Dominican Republic. Athletes also participated in an Olympic-style Opening Ceremony where they proudly displayed their country's apparel and paraded around John Carroll University's Shula Stadium, kicking off the tournament.

"Cleveland is an international city that is home to over 110 ethnic groups. Events like the Sports Festival help us celebrate our diversity and provide us with an opportunity to cultivate new relationships with visitors from all around the world," states Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

Sporting events with an international element greatly impact the local economy with area hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues all benefiting from tourism dollars. Often, families will extend their stay and plan an entire vacation around a sports tournament. The Sports Festival is intentionally scheduled around the Fourth of July holiday, making it convenient and affordable for families to do so.

"Teams from all around the world have been registering for the 2010 tournament. Offering athletes an opportunity to play against international teams is still a big draw and our vision remains to develop a youth sports festival unlike any in the nation, built around international teams and a superior experience while showcasing the best of Cleveland," stated David Gilbert, President & CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Over 3,500 athletes from more than 20 different countries are expected to participate in the 2010 Sports Festival, infusing an estimated $4 million into the local economy. A projected 160 soccer teams will compete in the AC Milan Continental Cup with teams coming from countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia and Nigeria. The Cleveland Indians Charities Continental Cup has grown to include U12 and U14 boys teams and will have international teams representing Australia, the Bahamas, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The addition of the Cleveland Cavaliers Continental Cup Basketball U14, U16 and U18 tournament will bring additional athletes to Cleveland including those from Cyprus, New Zealand, St. Lucia and Kenya.

"The growth of the Sports Festival has been so tremendous that we anticipate more than 7,000 athletes will participate by 2012 with the addition of basketball and additional sports in upcoming years," said Gilbert.

The Cleveland Clinic Sports Health International Youth Sports Festival is one of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission's annual proprietary events combining competitive international sports with cultural exchange, entertainment, attractions, shopping and exciting activities. The Festival has been so successful that it was also recently recognized by the National Association of Sports Commissions as the 2010 Outstanding Locally Created Event across the nation.

Team registration is still open for the Sports Festival scheduled for July 1-4, 2010. Soccer tournament play will take place at Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby and Laurel School Butler Campus in Russell Township. Baseball tournament play will take place at Euclid Memorial Park in Euclid, with the final championship game to be held at Progressive Field. Basketball tournaments will be played at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills.

For more information on the 2010 Cleveland Clinic Sports Health International Youth Sports Festival or to register your team, visit www.continental-cup.com.