USA Gymnastics and Hilton Worldwide announced today that Hilton Worldwide has joined the USA Gymnastics family of corporate partners as the official hotel partner. The multi-year partnership will focus on support for top athletes and more than 100,000 members of the organization.

Hilton Worldwide has developed partnership initiatives that will support the USA’s best gymnasts. Hilton Worldwide will help upgrade the amenities provided at the USA Gymnastics National Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site. Located in Huntsville, Texas, the USA Gymnastics National Training Center has housing and training facilities for women’s, rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, and trampoline and tumbling.

In addition, USA Gymnastics and Hilton Worldwide have created Team Hilton HHonors, a program that provides financial support to male gymnasts to help offset their training and living expenses while they pursue their Olympic dreams.

Jonathan Horton of Houston, the 2010 World all-around, bronze medalist and 2008 Olympic horizontal bar silver medalist, and Joey Hagerty of Albuquerque, N.M., a member of the 2008 Olympic bronze medal team, are among the gymnasts who will represent Team Hilton HHonors at the 2011 Winter Cup Challenge, Feb. 3-5, in Las Vegas, Nev.

“The type of support Hilton is providing is crucial for our top gymnasts to achieve success,” said Steve Penny, President of USA Gymnastics. “Whether it is added comfort after a long day of training at the Ranch or increasing the support for our athletes, Hilton is making a valuable contribution to our Olympic preparation. Combined with the benefits we plan to deliver to our members, this is a comprehensive partnership.”

“We are proud to become the official hotel partner of USA Gymnastics and extend our commitment to the U.S. Olympic Movement and Olympic hopefuls,” said Jeff Diskin, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Marketing, Hilton Worldwide. “We are delighted to provide direct funding to support some of our country’s best male gymnasts in their pursuit of Olympic gold.”

The 10 members of Team Hilton HHonors heading into Winter Cup are: Alexy Bilozertchev of Hilliard, Ohio/U.S. Olympic Training Center; Chris Brooks of Houston/University of Oklahoma; Andrew Elkind of Cherry Hill, N.J./U.S. Olympic Training Center; Wes Haagensen of Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Olympic Training Center; Hagerty; 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Swiss Turners; RJ Heflin of Harrisburg, Pa./Houston Gymnastics Academy; Horton; Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics; and Tim McNeill of Falls Church, Va./University of California, Berkeley.  Short bios on each of the gymnasts are included below.

As members of Team Hilton HHonors, these gymnasts will wear uniforms bearing the Team Hilton HHonors designation at domestic competitions, as well as make appearances on behalf of Hilton Worldwide. The Winter Cup is a re-ranking event for men’s gymnastics, and performances in Las Vegas could impact the make-up of Team Hilton HHonors.

Hilton Worldwide will also offer USA Gymnastics athletes, professional members, families and fans a discount on hotel stays when booking at any of Hilton Worldwide’s participating brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.

The agreement also includes funds for activating various promotional initiatives and sweepstakes that will be developed in the coming months, USA Gymnastics member programs, preferred room rates, and exclusive USA Gymnastics experiences and benefits for Hilton HHonors members.

Hilton Worldwide is a long-standing partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee as a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. The company’s support includes refurbishment of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and providing discounted hotel rates to U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, the USOC and National Governing Bodies through the Hilton Worldwide program.