© Doug Howell Photography

INDIANAPOLIS, June 10, 2016 – 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist Jordyn Wieber is in St. Louis today to promote the upcoming 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Gymnastics and the 2016 P&G Gymnastics Championships for women’s and junior men’s gymnastics, scheduled for June 23-26 at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz Arena. Wieber will take part in renaming Market Street and talk about many of the fan activities planned for competition week. Signage for the two events will begin appearing this week throughout downtown St. Louis on buildings and street poles.

With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio just around the corner, fans and spectators alike will not only have a chance to see members of Team USA compete in person, but also participate in a variety of fun fan activities inside and outside of the Chaifetz Arena. Below is a quick overview of the fan activities slated for competition week.

Fan activities

Here’s a quick summary of the activities for fans prior to competition, both outside and inside the venue. Competition begins on Thursday, June 23, with junior men at 1 p.m. June 23 is also Olympic Day, so lots of fun will be available for the kick-off of the U.S. Olympic Trials and the P&G Championships.

Activities held adjacent to Chaifetz Arena

  • Olympic Day, June 23. Hundreds of St. Louis-area kids will participate in fun athletic activities on Thursday, June 23, at 10:30 a.m. before the first session of the day. Activities include tumbling, gymnastics activities, rowing, track and field, soccer and tug-o-war.
  • Opening Ceremony, June 23. Gymnastics enthusiasts and the general public are invited to the opening ceremony on Thursday, June 23, at 11:30 a.m. outside Chaifetz Arena. The opening ceremony will include renaming Compton Street outside of Chaifetz Arena.
  • Countdown to Rio Fan Fest, June 23-26. Fans can gather for fun before the gymnastics evening sessions on June 23-26, as well as post-competition on June 25. The Countdown to Rio Fan Fest is a great place to mingle and enjoy music, beach games, autographs, food, gym club demos, face painting, etc.
  • KSDK Beach, June 23-26. Chaifetz Arena will have a touch of Brazil thanks to the KSDK Beach that will feature palm trees and a stage. The beach is expected to be the center of activity for the Countdown to Rio Fan Fest.
  • KSDK Sidewalk Art Project, June 23-26. To further bring a touch of Rio, each local organizing committee gym club will re-create Brazilian sidewalk patterns from the Copacabana Beach in its own section of St. Louis’ “Rio Way,” which will be displayed next to the KSDK Beach.
  • Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions. Fans will have a chance to learn more about the 2016 Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions, which begins Sept. 15 in Spokane, Wash. The 36-city tour will stop in St. Louis at Chaifetz Arena on Oct. 6 and wraps up Nov. 13 in Boston, Mass. The tour will feature the sport’s biggest names, including three-time World all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champion Centre, 2012 Olympic team and all-around champion Gabby Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Buckeye Gymnastics, 2012 Olympic team and floor exercise champion Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, and 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist Jordyn Wieber.
  • KT Tape free taping. Athletes and fans can stop by the booth for a free KT Tape application to provide pain relief and support. Staff will be on site to tape and to give instructions on the use and benefits of KT Tapes. Additionally, KT Tape will unveil the limited-edition USA Olympic tape. Athletes of all levels should stop by to learn about KT Tape.
  • Gateway City Taste of the Championships, June 23-26. Restaurants in downtown St. Louis will join in the excitement by participating in the Gateway City’s Taste of the Championships, a discounted dining program for spectators and participants for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Trials, P&G Gymnastics Championships and the USA Gymnastics Regional Congress. Several restaurants are planning to have gymnastics-themed dishes. For more information on participating restaurants, visit stlouis2016.com.
  • U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team Celebration, June 25. The U.S. Men’s Olympic Team will be announced following the Saturday night (June 25) competition, and the celebration will continue outside Chaifetz Arena with a fireworks show.
  • USA Gymnastics Ninja Challenge Finals, June 26. Two-time Olympic medalist and “American Ninja Warrior” competitor Jonathan Horton, along with Ninja Warrior competitors Miles Avery and Drew Drechsel, will be on hand when the finalists from two days of qualifications compete for top honors in St. Louis at the Countdown to Rio Fan Fest on Sunday. Gymnasts, ages 6-11, from local gymnastics clubs will race against the clock on an obstacle course that uses AAI gymnastics equipment. Attendees can watch and cheer on these budding Ninjas, and the winners will receive tickets to the final day of competition at 5:30 p.m. The qualification rounds on June 24-25 at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel are also open to spectators. Held in the Midway, the two-hour sessions are: June 24 – 10:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.; and June 25 – 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3:15-5:15 p.m.
  • Local Partner Days, June 24-26. Friday, June 24, will be UMB Day at the Championships, and Sunday, June 26, is SLUCare Day at the Championships. SLUCare will also be at Fan Fest with a photo booth.

The opportunities inside the venue include the following.

  • P&G autograph signing. Well-known gymnastics celebrities will sign autographs at the P&G booth prior to the start of selected sessions. The times and athletes will be announced competition week, but approximately 300 individuals will have the opportunity for an autograph during the allotted time.
  • Hershey’s Hello From Home. With Hershey’s, fans can send a message to Team USA when they’re far from home at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio! Team USA’s athletes will be a hemisphere away, and Hershey’s wants to help fans send them some love with personalized messages. After fans write their message, they will have an opportunity to get a photo with Hershey and Miss Kiss, two of Hershey’s beloved mascots.
  • Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone. Kids can have fun and gain knowledge about the importance of fitness through the interactive Kellogg’s Fitness and Nutrition Zone that features physical challenges in building balance, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise, all of which are fundamental to gymnastics. Participants get coaching tips from local gymnasts, can snap a photo on the Kellogg’s podium and share what gets them started each day on their way to greatness!
  • International Gymnastics Camp. Fans can stop by the International Gymnastics Camp booth to learn about the IGC difference, to take home exciting camp information and cool giveaways, and to meet Olympic and World champion Svetlana Boguinskaia! Staff members are available to speak about the premier gymnastics training opportunities at IGC, the benefits of summer camp for children, and IGC’s incredible recreation activities.
  • Merchandise. Fans can purchase everything gymnastics, including event-specific tees, official event merchandise, Under Armour and GK leotards, and more, at merchandise booths on the concourse. An Olympic replica from the women’s gymnastics team competitive apparel line for the 2016 Olympic Games will be included in the assortment of leotards available. Autographed copies of 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin’s book, “Finding My Shine,” are available for just $25. In her book, Liukin talks about her personal journey of challenges and success, sharing tips for reaching goals and overcoming obstacles.

The field for the women’s P&G Championships will be announced in the near future. The men’s field for the Olympic Trials was determined this past weekend at the men’s P&G Championships in Hartford, Conn. Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), won his fourth straight U.S. all-around title, the first man to do so since Blaine Wilson in 1999. Three of Mikulak’s 2012 Olympic teammates are in the Olympic Trials field: Jake Dalton of Sparks, Nev./Team Hilton (University of Oklahoma); Danell Leyva of Miami/Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics); and John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center).

With berths to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the line, all seven members of the 2015 World Championships team that finished fifth in Glasgow, Scotland, are participating this week. They are Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Leyva; Alexander Naddour of Queen Creek, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness Center); Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); and Brandon Wynn of Voorhees, N.J./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center).

P&G Gymnastics Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials for men’s gymnastics information

Single-session, multi- and all-session tickets are on sale now, with prices depending on session and seat location. All prices are plus applicable fees. All times are Central.

Single session

  • June 23 – Men’s Olympic Trials, 7 p.m., $20-$70; junior men/P&G Championships, 1 p.m., $10-$30
  • June 24 – Women’s P&G Championships: juniors, 1 p.m., $25-$40; seniors, 7:30 p.m., $40-$95
  • June 25 – Men’s Olympic Trials, 7 p.m., $25-$75; junior men/P&G Championships, 1 p.m., $15-$35
  • June 26 – Women’s P&G Championships: juniors, 1 p.m., $30-$45; seniors, 7:30 p.m., $45-$105

Other ticket packages

  • Men’s Olympic Trials – June 23 and 25: 7 p.m. on both days; tickets range in price from $55-$105 (plus applicable fees).
  • Women’s Day 1 – June 24: 1 p.m. (juniors) and 7:30 p.m. (seniors); tickets range in price from $75-$125 (plus applicable fees).
  • Women’s final day – June 26: 1 p.m. (juniors) and 7:30 p.m. (seniors); tickets range in price from $90-$140 (plus applicable fees).
  • Senior men’s and women’s finals – June 25 and 26: June 25 at 7 p.m. for men’s Olympic Trials and June 26 at 7:30 p.m. for women’s P&G Championships; tickets range from $85-$135 (plus applicable fees).
  • All-session tickets – all eight competition sessions: tickets range in price from $150-$495 (plus applicable fees). The platinum package ($495 plus fees) comes with a reserved seat in the first three rows, an autographed poster, and an Olympian meet-and-greet.

Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, Ticketmaster outlets, and at the Chaifetz Arena Box Office.

The June 23-26 competition schedule, along with Fan Fest times, is listed below; all times are in the Central time zone and subject to change.

U.S. Olympic Trials – Men’s Gymnastics

  • Thursday, June 23 – 7 p.m.; Fan Fest, 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 25 – 7 p.m.; Fan Fest, 5-6:30 p.m.

P&G Gymnastics Championships

  • Thursday, June 23, junior men – 1 p.m.
  • Friday, June 24/UMB Day at the Championships, junior women – 1 p.m.; senior women – 7:30 p.m.; Fan Fest, 5:30-7 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 25/UMB Day at the Championships, junior men – 1 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 26/SLUCare Day at the Championships, junior women – 1 p.m.; senior women – 7:30 p.m.; Fan Fest, 5:30-7 p.m.

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the local host for both events.

The trials and nationals for men’s and women’s gymnastics are being held separately to accommodate the differences in scheduling needed to properly identify and prepare athletes for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The P&G Gymnastics Championships for the senior men will be staged June 3-5 at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., and will determine the men who will compete at the men’s Olympic Trials. The women’s Secret U.S. Classic will be held in conjunction with the men’s P&G Championships. The last time the men’s and women’s national championships were held at different times and locations was in 2008. The U.S. Olympic Trials – Women’s Gymnastics is set for July 8 & 10 at SAP Center at San Jose (Calif.). The last time the men’s and women’s trials were held separately was in 1976.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for all sports are a collaborative undertaking between the U.S. Olympic Committee, the national governing bodies and the local organizing committees.

Background information

  • Chaifetz Arena at the Saint Louis University. Chaifetz Arena (TheChaifetzArena.com) is a 10,600-seat multipurpose venue on the campus of Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Spectra Venue Management, operators of Chaifetz Arena, is the industry leader across a full range of services that impact the bottom-line success of public assembly venues, including marketing and sales, corporate partnerships, event booking, ticket services and box office management, customer service, operations and engineering, and finance and administration. Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services), and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

  • St. Louis Sports Commission. The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately-funded nonprofit organization that grows, strengthens and moves St. Louis forward through sports. The organization uses the power of sports to enhance the area’s quality of life and generate economic and social benefit for the St. Louis region.