© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

BMX Championships Reap Benefits for Rock Hill

Bicycle racers from around the world fly through the air as part of the BMX World Championships held recently in Rock Hill.
Tut Underwood/SC Public Radio
Bicycle racers from around the world fly through the air as part of the BMX World Championships held recently in Rock Hill.

Rock Hill has enjoyed a growing reputation as an amateur sports Mecca, and the city recently proved it by hosting the BMX (bicycle motocross) world championship competitions.  Men, women and children came from across the globe to compete, and the event drew 3700 riders and 20,000 spectators from 48 countries. 

The city went all out to be hospitable to its visitors, and it succeeded in creating a great impression.  Men's world champion Corben Sharrah of the USA noticed Rock Hill's emphasis on sports and the ease of participating.   Lana Shelton brought her 7-year-old son from Zimbabwe to compete, and commented on the area’s deep-fried Southern foods and large portions. 

Even locals turned out, with David Meeler and his wife bringing their children to see people from around the world, and enjoy watching a sport they might someday participate in.  City Communications Manager Katie Quinn was amazed that people from Australia and France and Russia were crossing the seas to vacation in Rock Hill, S.C.   But the millions in economic benefits to the area are evidence of Rock Hill's success, and Quinn says some people are already talking about applying to get the championship race back in a few years.  

Tut Underwood is producer of South Carolina Focus, a weekly news feature. A native of Alabama, Tut graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communication. He worked in radio in his hometown before moving to Columbia where he received a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina, and worked for local radio while pursuing his degree. He also worked in television. He was employed as a public information specialist for USC, and became Director of Public Information and Marketing for the South Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include reading, listening to music in a variety of styles and collecting movies and old time radio programs.