USA Gymnastics, Indiana Sports Corp Celebrate Olympic Day on June 23

To celebrate Olympic Day and promote the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, USA Gymnastics and Indiana Sports Corp, along with USA Track and Field, are planning a host of fun activities from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on June 23, including a world record attempt for the most handstands at one time and a dynamic representation of the Olympic rings. Olympic champions Shannon Miller and Jaycie Phelps (1996, gymnastics), Quinn Buckner (1976, basketball) and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, athletics) will be on hand, along with Olympians Stephanie Arnold (2004, archery) and Ron Galimore (1980, gymnastics). 2014 Youth Olympic bronze-medalist and 2016 Olympic hopeful Alec Yoder of Indianapolis is also expected to attend the festivities.

 “Olympic Day is a great opportunity for families to come downtown and enjoy this special day,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “There will be something for everyone, from the opportunity to hear from some Olympic greats, to participating in kid-friendly booths and activities, to the world record attempt for the most handstands at one time.  Olympic Day is recognized around the world, and we want Indianapolis to stage an incredible celebration.”

Kids will have the chance to participate in the USA Gymnastics Fitness Zone, interactive activities staged by USA Track and Field and Indiana Sports Corp, and hear from the Olympians about their experiences and get autographs. Music and food trucks will also be on hand, as well as other booths and activities with local organizations.

The scheduled program that includes questions-and-answers with the Olympic champions in attendance begins at noon with local area gymnasts, Girl Scouts and youth groups attempting to set the World record at 12:45 p.m. Following the world record attempt, the world record participants will be organized into a human replica of the Olympic rings.

 “Indianapolis has a long and storied relationship with the U.S. Olympic movement, and we are thrilled to co-host an Olympic Day celebration,” said Ryan Vaughn, Indiana Sports Corp president.  “Having so many Olympic champions on hand to share their stories and mingle with attendees makes the day incredibly special. This is also great way to build awareness of the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships that will be here in August and the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials – Diving.” 

Indiana Sports Corp and USA Gymnastics are working with local area gymnastics clubs and selected youth groups to recruit more than 1,100 to participate in the world record attempt for most handstands at one time.  Indianapolis hosted a similar effort in 2005, the last time the national gymnastics championships were held in Indianapolis, and 1,072 participated in 2005.  For more information on participating in the world record attempt, go to PGChamps.com/OlympicDay.  Fans can also follow the Olympic Day activities on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #pgchamps.

Indianapolis’ celebration is among the more than 1,000 Olympic Day events taking place across the USA from May 31-June 30 to celebrate Olympic Day in 2015. Olympic Day was created in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games. Olympic Day’s mission is to promote fitness, wellbeing, culture and education, while promoting the Olympic values – excellence, friendship and respect – and the three Olympic Day pillars – move, learn and discover – in every corner of the globe. In the United States, Olympic Day events range from small gatherings to large, citywide events that feature athlete appearances, family-friendly activities and interactive learning experiences.

About the P&G Championships: Scheduled for Aug. 13-16, the four-day the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, which serves as USA Gymnastics’ national championships, will be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, site of the 2005 championships.

Single-session tickets are on sale now and range from $10-$105, with prices varying depending on session and seating area, along with several other ticket packages:  women’s gymnastics day 1 includes both the junior and senior sessions on Aug. 13, $75-$125 per seat; men’s gymnastics package that includes every men’s junior and senior session, Aug. 14 and 16, $75-$125; women’s gymnastics final day includes both the junior and senior sessions on Aug. 15, $90-$140; senior men’s and women’s gymnastics final day sessions, Aug. 15-16, $85-$135; and all-session ticket package includes every competitive session, with prices running from $150-$495, and a limited number of Platinum VIP all-session tickets, located in the first five rows, are still available and include an autographed poster and a meet-and-greet with an Olympian. 

Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster through www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster charge by phone 1-800-745-3000 or at participating Walmart locations in Central Indiana and Bankers Life Fieldhouse Box Office. Tickets are also available at a discounted price through participating local gymnastics clubs.  Prices vary depending on seat location, and listed ticket prices do not include applicable fees.

The competition schedule, which is subject to change, is outlined below: 

• Thursday, Aug. 13 – women’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7:30 p.m.;

• Friday, Aug. 14 – men’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7 p.m.;

• Saturday, Aug. 15 – women’s gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m., and seniors at 7:30 p.m.;

• Sunday, Aug. 16 – men’s gymnastics, seniors at 1:30 p.m., and juniors at 7:30 p.m.   

For more information on the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, go to pgchamps.com. 

The P&G Gymnastics Championships, previously known as the Visa Championships, determine the U.S. champions and the U.S. national team for the junior and senior elite levels. The field will be determined closer to the competition.  The nationals also traditionally serve as part of the selection process for the U.S. Team for the World Championships.  This is the fourth time the prestigious event has been held in Indianapolis (1986, 1998, 2005, 2015).

Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton HHonors (University of Michigan), both won their second consecutive women’s and men’s U.S. all-around titles, respectively, at the 2014 P&G Championships. The roster of former U.S. all-around champions is a veritable who’s who of gymnastics, including: women – Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Courtney Kupets, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kim Zmeskal and Mary Lou Retton; and men – Paul Hamm, Blaine Wilson, John Roethlisberger, Mitch Gaylord, Peter Vidmar and Bart Conner. The U.S. Gymnastics Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men and 1931 for the women.

The annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is a three-day event open to the entire gymnastics community. Held in conjunction with the P&G Championships, National Congress provides a unique opportunity for presentations, demonstrations and educational seminars on a variety of topics and a large exhibitor’s hall with additional business opportunities.  The 2015 edition will be staged at the Indiana Convention Center. 

Indiana Sports Corp, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana are the event’s local organizers. St. Vincent Sports Performance is the official medical and performance nutrition provider of USA Gymnastics and the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships.  Indianapolis has served as the headquarters for USA Gymnastics since 1983. 

Indiana Sports Corp.  Indiana Sports Corp’s mission is to create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth. A not-for-profit organization, Indiana Sports Corp was founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission. Our recent and upcoming schedule of events includes NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours, Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Big Ten Football Championship Games through 2021, Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Diving, and much more. For more information, visit www.IndianaSportsCorp.org.  

USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and group gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usagym.org.