IOWA GAMES OPENING CEREMONY | FRIDAY, JULY 18 AT 7:45 PM | JACK TRICE STADIUM | FREE ADMISSION
Governor Chet Culver and 2007 Miss Iowa will officially kick off Iowa’s largest amateur sports festival, the Summer Iowa Games, this Friday, July 18 at 7:45 pm at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The Opening Ceremony will begin with a welcome speech from Governor Culver. The featured speaker of the evening is 2007 Miss Iowa, Diana Reed.
“Highlighted by Governor Chet Culver and Miss Iowa 2007, Diana Reed, the Opening Ceremony promises to be exciting and entertaining,” commented Iowa Sports Foundation Executive Director, Jim Hallihan. “Governor Culver, a former college athlete and coach, has a great philosophy on how participation in athletics should develop our leaders of the future.”
The Iowa Games Opening Ceremony is free admission for all. The parade of athletes will kick start the event at 7:45 pm, followed by the National Anthem sung by Nevada native and Iowa State Student, Audra Lloyd. Skydivers from Accelerated Free Fall of Iowa will make an exciting jump into the stadium upon the completion of the National Anthem.
The event will feature performances from the Cardinal Gymnastics Academy Team, as well as, 2007 Miss Iowa, Diana Reed’s baton twirling performance. Hallihan noted Reed is talented in dance and baton twirling, and will thrill athletes and spectators with her performance as well as her speaking. Her platform for Miss Iowa was CHARACTER COUNTS!
Also included in the evening will be the presentation of the official of the year award and volunteer of the year awards, sponsored by Pella Corporation, which will be presented to Roger and Nancy Thomas and Kathy Gundlach respectively. The 2007 Athletes of the Year Diane Love, Ames and Chad Vance, Charles City, will arrive with the Iowa Games torch and light the cauldron, which is the official start of the 2008 Summer Iowa Games. The event will conclude with a fireworks display.
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