Meijer State Games of Michigan Announces Opening Ceremonies Details | Sports Destination Management

Meijer State Games of Michigan Announces Opening Ceremonies Details

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May 21, 2013
Volunteer Opportunities Now Available

Only a month remains until the Opening Ceremonies will kick off the fourth year of the West Michigan Sports Commission’s signature event, the Meijer State Games of Michigan. The Opening Ceremonies will be held June 21 at Fifth Third Ballpark (4500 West River Dr, Comstock Park, Mich.) starting at 7 p.m. Prior to the Opening Ceremonies, festivities will consist of an Athlete Village, Athlete Leadership Summit presented by the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and a 5K race.

The Meijer State Games of Michigan would not be possible without the help of our volunteers. Last year, over 900 volunteers helped make the Meijer State Games a success. Volunteer opportunities include assisting with the Athlete Village, athlete meal distribution, athlete check-in, as well as many more. To learn more or to volunteer, visit our volunteer page (www.stategamesofmichigan.com/volunteer).  

The Opening Ceremonies program will commence at 7 p.m. and will feature a parade of athletes, revealing of the West Michigan Sports Commission mascot, skydivers (weather dependent) and pyrotechnics all leading up to the lighting of the cauldron. For more information visit www.stategamesofmichigan.com/openingceremonies. 

The Athlete Village will start at 4 p.m. in the north parking lot of Fifth Third Ballpark. Vendors, sports demonstrations, and inflatables will be offered during this time. A free athlete meal provided by Subway will be available from 4-6:30 p.m.  The Opening Ceremonies 5K race will begin inside Fifth Third Ballpark on the warning track near home plate at 5:30 p.m. Registration for the race is available online (www.stategamesofmichigan.com/5K). 

The Athlete Leadership Summit will feature an Olympic Day celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m. A panel of Olympians will be speaking about nutrition and healthy living as well as answering questions from the audience. For a final list of Olympians attending, check our website (www.stategamesofmichigan.com/summit).

For a complete schedule of Opening Ceremonies and the Athlete Village, visit www.stategamesofmichigan.com/OCschedule or see attached schedule.

“We strive to showcase our athletes and give them an Olympic feel that many would otherwise not get to experience,” Eric Engelbarts, Executive Director of the Meijer State Games of Michigan said. “Fifth Third Ballpark is an outstanding venue to host our athletes, families, sponsors, and the community at large.”

The sporting competitions will be held June 20-23, at various locations across the Grand Rapids area. More than 6,000 athletes are expected to compete in the 35 sports being offered this year. Four new sports have also been added this year including badminton, diving, field hockey, and ultimate frisbee.

For more information about the Meijer State Games of Michigan or to register, please visit our website: www.stategamesofmichigan.com

The Meijer State Games of Michigan relies on the support of their corporate sponsors Meijer, Subway, Cel-Factor, Metro Health, MyWay, Fox Motors, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, MC Sports, Lacks, and Sibsco.

About the Meijer State Games of Michigan: Modeled after the Olympics, the Meijer State Games of Michigan welcomes athletes regardless of age or ability. The Games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living among resident of Michigan. A signature event of the West Michigan Sports Commission, the Meijer State Games of Michigan is truly a grassroots organization that relies on the dedication of thousands of volunteers and the support of corporate partners. To register for the 2013 Meijer State Games of Michigan, please visit www.StateGamesofMichigan.com.

About the West Michigan Sports Commission: Established in 2007, the West Michigan Sports Commission has worked with more than 250 events that have brought over 300,000 people into the community and generated an economic impact of more than $100 million from visitor spending.

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