Hello,
I am wondering how these Promos (Nintendo Black Star 001 and 002 respectively) in their holo versions where released. On Bulbapedia it says ‘This card was first available as a Holofoil Nintendo Black Star Promo, and was given to participants of the Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire Challenge, held at several locations across the United States in August 2003’ I can’t find find much on this “Challenge” – does anyone have a better sense? Thanks!
I was actually just starting to catalog how each Nintendo black star promo was distributed, so I do have some info about this. Here is a small article by someone who actually went to one of the challenges: www.pokebeach.com/2003/08/ruby-and-sapphire-challenge-tournament-results-and-other-stuff. They do a pretty good job of explaining everything that went on and how the event was ran.
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@funmonkey54 can probably help you out 
To add on to what @mojotbone said, it looks like August 2003 was a wild time for pokemon which is why it’s hard to find info (also being 17 years ago doesn’t help). WotC didn’t receive the license for Ruby & Sapphire so the cards could not have been from them. Pokemon Organized Play (POP) looks like it was founded in July or August before WotC had to let it go, so the cards are from a very small window where the parent company both does and doesn’t own them?
web.archive.org/web/20030803102950/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/league/ClosingAnnouncement
web.archive.org/web/20030802234656/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pokemon/eventsMain
Thanks for the resources all! Crazy how little clear info there is! I got one of each as a kid (still have) and am wondering where I obtained. I did go to the release party of Ruby & Sapphire at the Pokémon Center new york but I don’t recall receiving any cards there and I think it was for the video game not the cards.
The FOIL Groudon EX and Kyogre EX promocards were given away during Gencon 2003 (Have to check but July 2003 Indianapolis). I was there, I got them there.
WotC was running the Fan Appreciation tournament in one of the gamerooms and at the same time PUI had a booth in the convention hal. Dave Schwimmer was there also Jimmer Sivertsen giving away booster packs of EX Ruby & Sapphire, Mousemats Ruby Sapphire and the Kyogre en Groudon EX FOIL promocards.
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Thank you for the correction, I removed the second half of my post to avoid any confusion… I’m very surprised Nintendo let Wizard’s distribute R&S merch and promos but that’s cool 
No not Wizards was distributing R&S promo’s.
I said PUI (PUI = Pokémon USA inc) which is now called The Pokémon Company International. (TPCI)
Wizards was running the events. PUI had a booth and was giving away R&S promo/packs/merchandise.
Thank you to @bonk for finding and sharing this critical primary source of information!
web.archive.org/web/20030701121156/http://op.pokemon-tcg.com/premier_events.html
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