Denver Nuggets share the court with Olympians and Paralympians

Professional athlete... upon hearing this term most Americans think NFL, NBA, NHL, or maybe PGA athletes. Many do not realize that there is a whole Nation full of under publicized elite, or professional, athletes in the various Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. While elite athletes, striving to the top of the Olympic podium, are not classified as professional athletes, nor are they paid as such, being an athlete is their profession. 

On Tuesday night at the NBA Denver Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center, professional basketball players shared the limelight with this other demographic of professional athletes.

It was an Olympic and Paralympic themed night in conjunction with the timing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Athletes from the Olympic Training Center (OTC), United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and sport National Governing Body (NGB) employees and interns, as well as friends and family from Colorado Springs made the hour trek up to the Denver game for the evening’s events. 

Adam Andrasko, Athlete Services & Programs Intern for the USOC at Colorado Springs, and Sherry Von Riesen, Coordinator, Athlete Facilities & Services, worked closely with Nick Smith, Account Executive Group Sales for the Denver Nuggets, to create this unique event for Coloradoans to enjoy.

“It was our (Smith and Andrasko’s) primary goal to provide affordable tickets to employees of the USOC, Paralympics, NGBs, and their friends/families that would promote an organization wide sense of unity,” Andrasko reports. “Our second goal was to promote the USOC, Paralympics, NGBs, and Team USA Athletes.  We worked to get exposure through pregame ceremonies, an in game promotion, a post game shoot around, and in game videos.”

All the hard work and planning put into the event certainly seemed to pay off. It was apparent, even at the start of the game, that the crowd was energized and excited not only to be watching their favorite basketball players, but also to be in the presence of our Nation’s Olympic and Paralympic heros.

Lopez Lomong (Tully, N.Y.), 2008 Track & Field Olympian and elected team flag bearer for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games, held the United States’ flag and was one among four athletes involved in an “Opening Ceremony” style start to the game. 2008 Paralympic swimming medalist Susan Beth Scott (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) holding the Paralympic flag, 2008 judo Olympian Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) baring the Colorado State flag, and three-time weightlifting Olympian Cheryl Haworth (Colorado Springs, Colo.) raising the Olympic flag, were the other individuals who paraded out onto the court prior to the music of the National Anthem. 

“I believe that having the athletes act as flag bearers was exciting to the crowd.  It added a strong sense of patriotism to the pregame festivities,” Andrasko observed.

After what seemed to be a quick first quarter against the Washington Wizards, another announcement was made to the stadium, and about 30 more of the country’s best athletes proudly marched and waved onto the court. 

“When the athletes were announced I felt that the cheers and applause of the crowd said it all.  It was a great ovation and expression of appreciation.” Added Andrasko.

The athletes sharing the court with the basketball players during the break varied from greco-roman wrestlers, judo and paralympic judo athletes, triathletes, pentathletes, paralympic swimmers, weightlifters and others. 

"It was such a cool experience and fun opportunity to be recognized by such a large audience. It was awesome getting down there on the court and waving to the stands like we were celebrities," says one judo athlete. "We train so hard week after week, year-round, and usually are only in the public eye for two weeks every four years, during the Games, that events like these are fun reminders of why we are doing what we do."

Throughout the stands members of the USOC, NGBs, OTC and Colorado Springs community were scattered, cheering all the professionals on the court. The Denver Nuggets even treated some of the athletes to a suite where they could watch the game and take a load off from the demands of training schedules. 

A few of the greco-roman wrestlers arrived late, because they had an evening practice before the game. One, Robbie Smith, said he was just happy to be able to make it up to hang out with his friends for the time that he could.

Post-game the court was opened up to the Olympic and Paralympic group for a free-for-all shoot around. "This is fun, but its a good thing that I'm a wrestler, because I am terrible at basketball!" an athlete commented.

"It is a great thing when two organizations like the Nuggets and the USOC can work together to coordinate an event that benefits both parties and provides added excitement to the Colorado Community," Andrasko reflects. "Nick Smith and I have talked about this becoming a annual event... that everyone within the USOC, Paralympics, and NGBs could get excited about.  Sherry Von Riesen and I would be happy to coordinate more organization wide projects and will be looking to find events and teams to partner with as we move forward."

Sports inspire and motivate fans. Whether an athlete plays for the Denver Nuggets or represents Team USA on the world stage, Americans take pride in their professional athletes and are proud to cheer them on. 

Look around your area and become a fan of the next Olympic or Paralympic Champion in your neighborhood here on TeamUSA.org.