2018 Meijer State Games of Michigan Opening Ceremony Details Revealed

2018 Meijer State Games of Michigan Opening Ceremony Details Revealed
Olympian Jim Slater to light cauldron at Opening Ceremony  

Grand Rapids, Mich., June 20, 2018 ─ The Opening Ceremony for the 2018 Meijer State Games of Michigan ─ Summer Games is just two days away. The Opening Ceremony will take place at the East Kentwood High School Falcon Stadium on June 22nd starting at 7:30 p.m. 

Olympians that will be in attendance are Gary Morgan, Bill Smoke, Jim Slater, Mark Beaufait and Kevin Miller. There will also be appearances from Mrs. Michigan America, the 2018 Athlete of the Year winners, Volunteer of the Year winner and Justin Caine. Finally, the Opening Ceremony will conclude with the lighting of the cauldron. Jim Slater will accept the responsibility of lighting the cauldron for the 2018 Summer Games.  

Jim Slater specializes in ice hockey, and earned a seventh-place finish at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. He’s had experience in two World Championships and has placed seventh at both. Slater is an alumnus of Michigan State University, where he became the first player to record 40 or more points in three straight seasons since 1999.  

Opening Ceremony schedule: 

2 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Athlete Check-in, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield
4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Athlete Village, sponsored by Funny Business Agency
4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Subway food sampling, sponsored by Subway
7:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Parade of Athletes line-up
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony program will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the parade of athletes. Directly following the parade of athletes, national anthem contest winner, Macy Krupiczewicz, will perform the national anthem. Skydivers will drop into East Kentwood Football Stadium, depending on the weather, during the Opening Ceremony. The Classic K-9s will also put on a show. The Classic K-9s have been shown on Good Morning America, ESPN’s Incredible Dog Challenge, America’s Talking, Animal Planet’s Pet Star and the Late Show with David Letterman. 

There will be an entry fee of $10 for adults (18+), $5 for students (6-18), and no charge for children 5 and under, athletes and coaches. A five-dollar parking fee will be charged at the entrance. 

Prior to the Opening Ceremony program, Athlete Village, presented by Funny Business Agency, will open at 4:30 p.m. on June 22nd in the Falcon Pride parking lot of East Kentwood High School. Athletes will be able to check-in and pick up their free Opening Ceremony t-shirt while supplies last. They will also be able to visit multiple vendor booths, enjoy a performance by the Drive Dance Team, sing in Jeep karaoke sponsored by SNX, take pictures in a photo booth and participate in sports obstacles and inflatables. 

Subway will be on site handing out samples for athletes, volunteers and guests while supplies last. To see more details and vendors who we will be present at athlete village, please visit https://www.stategamesofmichigan.com/summer-games-athlete-checkin/.  

There will be mascot appearances from Buckets of the Grand Rapids Drive, Pounce from Davenport University, Louie of the Grand Valley Lakers and Felix from the West Michigan Sports Commission.

 
For more information on the Opening Ceremony and other events taking place on the day of the Opening Ceremony, visit www.stategamesofmichigan.com/summer-games-opening-ceremony/. 

The Meijer State Games of Michigan sponsors include: Meijer, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Metro Health, Subway, Fox Motors, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network of Michigan, iHeartMedia, Funny Business Entertainment Agency, Peppino’s, Lacks Enterprises Inc., SIBSCO, Brain Injury Association of Michigan, LIFE EMS Ambulance, The GR Shop, HeglundSova Realty, Inc., Tele-Rad, Marks Photo and Video, Michigan Office Solutions

About the Meijer State Games of Michigan: 

The Meijer State Games of Michigan, a West Michigan Sports Commission signature event, is an Olympic-style, multi-sport event(s) that welcomes athletes regardless of age or ability level. The games embody the values of participation, sportsmanship, and healthy living among the residents of Michigan. Since 2010, Meijer State Games of Michigan has hosted over 65,000+ athletes. The Meijer State Games of Michigan has also contributed over $25 million in estimated economic impact to cities throughout Michigan.