USOC To Host Community Appreciation Day Celebration

USOC June 15, 2010

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) will pay tribute to its hometown Colorado Springs and to Olympic Day with a Community Appreciation Day Celebration on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  
 
This free community event taking place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) on 1750 East Boulder Street (corner of Boulder & Union) will be fun for the whole family. The event will feature autograph sessions with  2010 U.S. Olympic Team medalists and other USOTC Olympic and Paralymic resident athletes, live sport demonstrations featuring 11 different sports including BMX, freestyle skiing aerialists, gymnastics and volleyball, live bands, prize giveaways, popcorn, balloons and face-painting, and a U.S. Olympic merchandise sale.
 

To commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is observed annually on June 23 around the world. Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well-being in addition to the Olympic Ideals of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship. Sponsored internationally by McDonald's, thousands of people of all ages in more than 160 countries will participate in Olympic Day events in 2010.  From June 19-27, 2010, more than 250 communities across the United States will celebrate Olympic Day through educational programming and other activities.

"This celebration is our way of being able to say thank you to the citizens of this community, to share with them the athletes and sports that make up the Olympic Movement and to come together in the spirit of Olympism," Scott Blackmun, USOC Chief Executive Officer said. "Olympic Day celebrations provide a great vehicle to inspire young people and Americans alike and we welcome the opportunity to share that inspiration with our hometown."

Just some of the featured athletes set to appear and participate include: Shannon Bahrke, two-time Olympic medalist in freestyle moguls; Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, two-time Olympian and 2010 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle aerials; Rachael Flatt, Colorado Springs resident and 2010 Olympic figure skater; Rudy Garcia-Tolson, two-time Paralympic gold medalist in swimming; Gerald Hayden, two-time Paralympian in alpine skiing; Ryan St. Onge,two-time Olympian in freestyle aerials; Carissa Gump, 2008 Olympian in weightlifting; and Will Brady, Colorado Springs resident athlete in modern pentathlon.  

In addition to the numerous sport demonstrations that will be spread throughout the OTC and adjacent Boulder Park, more than 60 Paralympic swimmers will be taking part in the inaugural Jimi Flowers Classic in the Aquatics Center of the USOTC.  Elite Paralympic swimmers from across the country are expected to participate in the event dedicated to long-time USOC employee Jimi Flowers, who passed away last year following a hiking accident. 

USA Basketball is also hosting the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, June 23-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center Sports Center I.  Four games will be held each day and all games are open free of charge to the public.  Teams competing will include USA, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico Canada, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico.  June 26 competition will include medal round and consolation semifinals and play for first through fourth places and fifth through eighth places. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women finals will be held Sunday, June 27.

Tags: Carissa Gump, FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, Gerald Hayden, Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, Olympic Day, Rachael Flatt, Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Ryan St. Onge, Scott Blackmun, Shannon Bahrke, United States Olympic Committee, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Will Brady