INDIANAPOLIS, June 23, 2015 – As part of the 2015 Olympic Day celebration in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics and Indiana Sports Corp recognized the 11 companies that have become local partners for the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and shared plans for fan activities on Georgia Street and Circle City’s Taste of the Championships during competition week. USA Gymnastics also announced that Indy’s three Olympic gymnastics medalists Jaycie Phelps, team champion in 1996, and Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan, both team silver medalists in 2008, will be honored on Aug. 13, the first night of competition for women’s gymnastics.
“Having our national championships in our hometown is special for us,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “We have 11 Hoosier companies, led by St.Vincent Sports Performance, whose support is integral to the success of this year’s championships. And Aug. 13 is going to be a special night when we honor Jaycie, Bridget and Sam in their hometown and recognize their Olympic accomplishments. Everyone, whether they are attending the championships or not, are welcome to enjoy the festivities on Georgia Street that will include family-based activities and bring a taste of Rio de Janeiro, the site of the 2016 Olympic Games, to Indy.”
Local event partners
St.Vincent Sports Performance, the official healthcare provider for USA Gymnastics, is the local presenting partner for the 2015 P&G Championships, as the official medical and performance nutrition provider.
The four premier level partners are: Deloitte, Vera Bradley, Kroger and OneAmerica Financial Partners. The other event partners are Bohlsen Group; Washington National Insurance Company, a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group; Hendricks Regional Health; Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; Crowe Horwath; and Faegre Baker Daniels. Event signage, which will begin to appear in downtown Indianapolis next month, will incorporate some Vera Bradley designs.
Georgia Street becomes “Road to Rio”
Fans and Hoosiers can enjoy fan activities and fun on Georgia Street on all four competition days, Aug. 13-16. Dubbed the “Road to Rio” in recognition of the 2016 Olympic Games, the fun ranges from face painting, photo opportunities, live art, food, live Brazilian entertainment to interactive activities for adults and kids alike. More detailed information will be announced in late July, but the Road to Rio schedule is: Aug. 13-14, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Aug. 15, 3:30-6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gymnastics and the P&G Championships will also be part of some of the regular Georgia Street activities Aug. 12-14.
“Georgia Street is going to be fun family entertainment,” said Ryan Vaughn, president of the Indiana Sports Corp. “There really be something for everyone as Indianapolis once again celebrates a great event in the heart of our vibrant downtown.”
Circle City Taste of the Championships
Restaurants in downtown Indianapolis will join in the excitement of the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships by participating in the Circle City’s Taste of the Championships, a discounted dining program for spectators and participants for the P&G Championships and the USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show. ISC Discounted Dining Restaurant Partners that participate will offer discounts on a special menu with four meals that meet the St.Vincent Sports Performance nutritional recommendations.
“Eating healthy is important for athletes and non-athletes alike,” said Ralph Reiff, executive director of St.Vincent Sports Performance. “Proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet can make a huge difference, whether you are training for the Olympics or enjoying daily activities. The selected menu items will have various designations that will help diners recognize entrees that can help them achieve their goals.”
Olympians Peszek, Phelps, Sloan celebration and other special honors
Phelps, who was a member of the Magnificent Seven who won the team gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and 2008 Olympic team silver-medalists Peszek and Sloan will be honored on Aug. 13, when women’s gymnastics takes the stage. The Indianapolis Children’s Choir will perform as part of the Olympian celebration, including singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Thursday evening’s start time has been moved up to 7 p.m.
On Friday night, the 2015 induction class of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame will be recognized during the first night of men’s gymnastics, which also begins at 7 p.m.
For more information about the local partners, Road to Rio and celebration of Indiana’s Olympic gymnastics medalists, go to pgchamps.com.
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 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.
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.
Background information
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St.Vincent Sports Performance. A worldwide destination for elite athlete training, the St.Vincent Sports Performance staff has been supporting world-class athletes since 1987. The first and largest hospital- based program of its kind in the United States, St.Vincent Sports Performance employs 70 nationally certified athletic trainers, 7 physicians, 12 certified strength and conditioning specialists, two licensed sports psychologists and a registered sports dietitian. Together they have trained athletes at every level from Olympians to the NFL and NBA, to Motorsports and NCAA athletes. Learn more at definingsportsperformance.com.
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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.