| ARLINGTON, Va. – Bodybuilder Craig Richardson will embark on his first USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to Italy Oct. 8-14. A professional bodybuilder since 2003, Richardson will travel to a number of military installations, including Aviano Air Base, Vicenza Army Base and Camp Darby. He will conduct training sessions, sign autographs, and meet and greet service members.
Nicknamed “The Diamond,” Richardson has been a staple in the bodybuilding circuit since 1993, when he was the overall winner of the Teen Category of the New Jersey Championships. He spent several years competing in a number of championships, winning several first-place finishes, including the Light-Heavyweight category at Nationals in 2000. The New Jersey native then took time off the circuit in order to establish his personal business, “Craig Richardson’s Body Sculpting.” He returned to the circuit in 2003, officially turning professional. 2005 has been his best year to date, with Top Five finishes in the New York and Toronto Pro contests, and 17th overall at the 2005 Mr. Olympia contest.
This tour continues the USO tradition of bringing celebrities and sports figures to service members serving far from home. Sports figures who have recently made trips for the USO include legendary coach Lou Holtz, Louisiana State University football coach Les Miles and NCAA coaches who coached military players in championship tournaments.
USO tours are sponsored by AT&T, Inc., the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours.
###
Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment.
Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
About the USO: For more than 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S & K Sales Co., TriWest Healthcare Alliance and The Walt Disney Company. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at www.uso.org.
To learn more about Craig Richardson, visit www.craigrichardson.net.
|
