West Michigan's Morning News
Meijer State Games of Michigan
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I mean, we'll get to viewing opportunities, but if you want to be a part of the opening ceremonies, our own Kevin Richards will be the voice of the event tonight. Tell us a little bit about what to expect. Yeah, opening ceremony is modeled very similarly to what you might see in Paris in a little bit. Maybe not quite as much fanfare, little scaled down version. But our opening ceremony includes some super fun elements. As the parade of athletes, we light a cauldron. We've got the torch being ran across the field. We have Olympian appearances. Nick Baumgarner, who won a gold medal in the 2022 Beijing Olympics in Snowboard Cross. He's coming down, and he's our keynote speaker. We have a couple other Olympians joining us as well that are all Michigan-based Olympians, too. We really try to bring those hometown routes back to our opening ceremony. So Tia Brooks-Waynemaker is an East Kentwood high school alum who did shot put and made it to London. So we're having great people coming out. We have entertainment. We've got it all, really. Awesome. And is it free to come out tonight? It's the Myers Sports Complex up in Rockford, off at 10 mile. Yep, it's at the Myers Sports Complex. There is a parking fee, but otherwise getting into the opening ceremony itself is completely free. We have a kickoff party also from 6.30 to 7.30, and that includes some vendors, some things to do. You can grab some swag, and we have fun champion bracelets that you can make. So we're riding the wave of bracelet making, but everyone seems to love it, and it's a great way to create that unity and create a memory that lasts beyond opening ceremony. A few years back, Kevin Richards and I were talking about this this week in the hallway, when he was in, is that we hosted the TV stream broadcast of the National State Games of Vienna Arena. And it really does have, if you want to come out, or if you know somebody participating, that Olympic feel like you're going to see in Paris when the torch comes in and everything, and all the entertainment. So I'd encourage you to get out there tonight. It's going to be a beautiful night for it. It's going to be warm, so make sure you bring some liquids, bring some to water to hydrate. But then I want to ask you about some of the key venues to go watch tomorrow. I know track and field's East Kentwood High School in my neck of the woods, and there's always great stories of track and field because of the age groups. Wasn't there a man or a woman that was like 80 or 90 years old? Yeah, both honestly. Yeah, a couple years ago, but just one an unbelievable event, and their time was incredible. I know, and that's really what we're all about. We want people to do the things they love for as long as you want to do them. So this year we've got a five-year-old and an 85-year-old competing, I'm pretty sure. A couple years ago, we had a relay where a grand kid gave it to his grandpa, who gave it to his son, who gave it to his other son. And so it was a three-generational baton relay, basically. And that's so awesome. There's not many places that you can go out and do that with your family. Or try out your first track meet at five years old. Or try for a record. We had a pole vaulter last year. He was our athlete of the year. And he's now trying to make the Olympic trials this year. So he's unfortunately absent this year, but he was at our meet, set our record, and is looking to potentially go to Paris. There are some 40 events over 37 venues in 28 sports. It's in the-- I'm Victoria Cash. Thanks for calling the Lucky Land Hotline. If you feel like you do the same thing every day, press 1. If you're ready to have some serious fun for the chance to redeem some serious prizes, press 2. We heard you loud and clear. So go to luckylandslots.com right now and play over 100 social casino-style games for free. Get lucky today at luckylandslots.com. No purchase necessary. VGW Group, void rep prohibited by law. 18 plus, terms of condition supply. 30 seconds that we've got left. Obviously, the best resource is stategamesofmichigan.com to find out more information. But the brunt of the events are yet to come. Absolutely, yeah. They all kick off pretty much tonight and Saturday. And so there's still time. There's on-site registration. If you're still thinking about participating, check out the sport that you're interested on on our website. That page will have all the information that you may need to participate, watch, be a volunteer. There's some events that could still use volunteers. So please go to our website, check out the sports you're interested in, and get involved. We love involving anyone and everyone. It's truly meant for all ages and abilities to be part of. Great stuff. We'll get the link in the podcast section at woodradio.com, director of the Meyer State Games of Michigan's Julie Cullen. Thank you for coming in today. Thank you for having me.