The AT&T American Cup is being held in Newark at the Prudential Center Saturday afternoon. Watch video
NEWARK -- For the first time in the competition's history, the AT&T American Cup - the first international gymnastics competition of the season in the lead-up to the Olympics - is being held in New Jersey.
U.S. Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas will be one of 18 gymnasts from 11 countries descending on Newark this weekend for the cup.
"It's the first competition of what's going to be a long season leading up to the Olympics (this summer)," said Nastia Liukin, a 2008 Olympic champion and two-time American Cup winner. Liukin and former Olympian Tim Daggett will be commentating at the cup.
"It's very prestigious...about 75 to 80 percent of the gymnasts you'll see Saturday will be in Rio."
The cup, which began in 1976, has boasted many winners that have gone on to clinch medals at the Olympics, like Nadia Comaneci, Dominique Dawes, and Paul Hamm. Since its inception, it has been held in more than a dozen cities across the Unites States.
"The northeast has the most densely populated gymnastics cities in the country," Steve Penny, the CEO and president of USA Gymnastics, said of the choice to hold this year's competition at the Prudential Center in Newark.
"We look for markets and partners where we know we can have a successful event...we are near sell-out (here)."
The cup is one of three gymnastics events being held in the arena over the next two days. The Nastia Liukin Cup at 7 p.m. Friday and the Elite Team Cup at 6 p.m. Saturday, which both feature up-and-coming gymnasts competing.
Though this is The Rock's first year hosting the event, it has already announced that it will be hosting the American Cup again in 2017.
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"This is very significant for the history of this building," Prudential Center President Hugh Weber said.
"This event is at a world-class level. It shines a light on New Jersey and on (the Prudential Center)...it puts a spotlight on Newark."
The American Cup will be broadcast live on NBC at 1 p.m. Saturday. Viewers in person and on television can look forward to seeing top U.S. gymnasts Gabby Douglas, Maggie Nichols, Samuel Mikulak, and Donnell Whittenburg, who are all competing for spots on the U.S. Olympic team.
Daggett, who won two Olympic medals in 1984 and the American Cup in 1985, called the competitors a "who's who of gymnastics."
"It's a mini preview of 2016 Rio."
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.