Greenville, SC has been selected to host some of the finest Karate athletes in the world for the 2010 USA-NKF National Karate Championships and US Team Trials, to be held July 8-11, 2010 at the Bi-Lo Center.The USA National Karate-do Federation (NKF) announced this week that out of a pool of potential host cities, Greenville was chosen for the event. The event is expected to bring up to 5,000 athletes and an additional 5,000 officials, family members and karate fans to area hotels, restaurants and attractions.

The USA-NKF, the largest karate organization in the U.S., is dedicated to the growth of all types of karate throughout the nation and is known for its world-class technical, administrative, referee, medical and athlete corps. The USA-NKF National Championships offer an opportunity for premier athletes all over the U.S. to compete against one another. The Championship is also the sole opportunity for athletes to vie for a spot on the junior and senior national teams that represent the U.S. internationally.

The event has been hosted in recent years by such well-known cities as New Orleans, Ft. Lauderdale, San Jose, Charlotte and Houston. "This is a great victory for Greenville," says Ryan Herron, director of sales for Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Between the Bi-Lo Center's premier facilities, our exceptional hotel offering and all the wonderful and interesting things to do in our destination, our package was very strong." The event is anticipated to generate $4 million in direct economic impact to Greenville County. "The Bi-Lo Center is excited to host this event and we look forward to its success," said Roger Newton, general manager of the Bi-Lo Center. "As always, we are pleased to be able to offer excellent and diverse entertainment to our community."

Recruiting the USA NKF event involved strong support from local karate professionals. "Carolina Karate and Fitness is very proud to host the US National Championships and US Team Trials," said Tommy Hood, local contact and National Team Coach from the Carolina Karate and Fitness Center. "We have a long year ahead of planning and training to prepare. This was a team effort and we thank the Convention and Visitors Bureau for making this possible."

The USA-NKF is dedicated to promoting karate, to providing the educational and financial support to its athletes and to the dissemination of experience and skill in the martial arts to the community. Among USA-NKF athletes are World Championship Medal winners, US Olympic Committee Karate Athletes of the Year, and World Championships Individual Bronze and Silver Medalists.

The Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization that is responsible for promoting the greater Greenville area as an attractive destination for meetings, conventions, trade shows and leisure travelers. As the primary marketing and promotion agency for the City and County of Greenville, the goal of the Convention and Visitors Bureau is to increase visitor-generated revenue from local, regional and national markets, strengthening Greenville's economy.