Olympic City USA will be in full celebration mode June 25-27 during the Hall of Fame Festival in and around the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. The museum doubles as the home of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, and nearly 30 Hall of Fame athletes will be participating in the three-day event as a new class of Team USA’s greatest athletes are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Festivities include a Saturday morning parade with Air Force parachuters and a flyover by planes from the National Museum of World War II Aviation. The Colorado Springs Philharmonic will present a free Sunday evening concert at Weidner Field featuring Olympic- and sports-themed music. The International Sports Film Festival features a pop-up film festival on Monday. Multiple meet and greets with athletes give you the chance to interact with some of America’s greatest athletes. And U.S. soccer legend Brandi Chastain will lead a free soccer clinic at Weidner Field for kids 8-14.
Participating Hall of Famers and athletes include:
Wendy Boglioli (swimming, 1976)
Brian Boitano (figure skating, 1984, 1988, 1994)
Brandi Chastain (soccer, 1996, 2000, 2004)
Tyler Carter (Para alpine skiing, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Michelle Dusserre Farrell (gymnastics, 1984)
Teresa Edwards (basketball, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)
Peggy Fleming (figure skating, 1964, 1968)
Dick Fosbury (track and field, 1968)
Dorothy Hamill (figure skating, 1976)
Jennifer Hooker (swimming, 1976)
David Kiley (Para alpine skiing, Para track and field, wheelchair basketball, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 2000)
Michelle Kwan (figure skating, 1996, 2002)
Amanda McGrory (wheelchair track and field, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
John Naber (swimming, 1976)
Erin Popovich (Para swimming, 2000, 2004, 2008)
Mary Lou Retton (gymnastics, 1984)
Jill Sterkel (swimming, 1976)
Lenny Wilkens (NBA legend)
Trischa Zorn-Hudson (Para swimming, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
There will also be several members of the 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, including: Patrick Byrne, Dave Conklin, James Dunham, Sylvester Flis, Lonnie Hannah, Dan Henderson, Chris Manns, Brian Ruhe, Jack Sanders, Patrick Sapp and Josh Wirt.
Hall of Fame athletes will engage with guests through meet and greets and autograph signings over the three-day festival. The Museum will also be unveiling the first public access to new digital exhibits for the induction call of 2022.
Here’s a full schedule of Hall of Fame Festival events:
Saturday, June 25
Kickoff on the Plaza
9 a.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum Plaza
Celebrate the inaugural Hall of Fame Festival with athlete meet and greets and even try various Olympic and Paralympic sports right on the Plaza of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Guests will be able to meet Olympians and Paralympians, including hall of famers Dick Fosbury and John Naber, and try curling, wheelchair basketball or even workout with an athlete on the Plaza.
Parade
10-11 a.m. — Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum to U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Immediately following the Kickoff on the Plaza will be a parade featuring nearly 30 members of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame along with legendary NBA player and coach Lenny Wilkens and Hall of Fame inductee Teresa Edwards. The free parade will begin near the Pioneers Museum and head west on Vermijo Street toward the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Along with world-class athletes, the parade will feature parachuters from the Air Force’s Wings of Blue along with a flyover courtesy of the National Museum of World War II Aviation.
Athlete Meet & Greets
11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Olympians, Paralympians and hall of famers will be meeting with guests around the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Watch for a complete schedule here: usopm.org/hof.
Sunday, June 26
Athlete Meet & Greets
10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Olympians, Paralympians and hall of farmers will be doing one hour autograph and meet-and-greet sessions at the Museum.
Free Soccer Clinic with Brandi Chastain
3-5 p.m. — Weidner Field
Kids ages 8-14 will be led through soccer drills by legendary soccer star Brandi Chastain at Weidner Field, home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Check-in begins at 2 p.m. and all participants will receive a complimentary t-shirt thanks to Olympic City USA. Come ready to run and play in your fastest shoes or cleats; equipment will be provided courtesy of the Colorado Springs Youth Sports Office and Pride Soccer. Registration
Free Colorado Springs Philharmonic concert
6-7 p.m. — Ent Center for the Arts
Hall of Famers Brain Boitano, Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, Erin Popovich, John Naber, Mary Lou Retton and Lenny Wilkens will be guest conductors at the free concert performed by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The one-hour concert will take place at the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS and feature Olympic- and sports-themed music. (Note, the venue was changed to the Ent Center due to weather.)
LFG movie screening
7:30 p.m. — Multiple locations in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, and “LFG” documents the story of the U.S. women’s soccer team’s quest for equal pay. The documentary is 1 hour, 45 minutes and gives an inside look at the team’s journey to pay equity. Hall of famer soccer player Brandi Chastain and women’s rights activist Marlene Bjornsrud will be part of the panel. Get Tickets
Monday, June 27
The International Sports Film Festival (ISFF) is presenting a pop-up film festival. Founded by Josh Merwin, ISFF’s mission is to provide filmmakers with a platform to share impactful sports stories that will inspire and educate audiences The ticketed screenings will be $5 per film and include a panel at the Museum. The films are:
Positive All the Way movie screening
11 a.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum’s event space
Directed by Dr. Steven Ungerleider and David C. Ulich, Positive All the Way is a 34-minute documentary that focuses on the growing Paralympic Movement. Following the documentary, there will be a panel with Paralympic swimming champion and hall of famer Erin Popovich. Directors Ungerleider and Ulich will also be joining the panel virtually, which will be moderated by ISFF founder Josh Merwin. Get Tickets
Waterman movie screening
1:30 p.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum’s event space
Waterman shares the story of Hawaiian native Duke Kahanamoku, a hall of fame swimmer and considered the father of modern-day surfing. Following the film, with a run time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, there will be a panel with the director, Isaac Halasima and co-producer Chet Thomas along with Olympic gold medalist swimmer and hall of famer John Naber. This panel will also be moderated by Merwin. Get Tickets
Miracle movie screening
6:30 p.m. — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum’s event space
Miracle shares the inspiring story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. The team of amateur college players took the Soviet Union powerhouse and defeated them en route to the gold medal. The movie has a run time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and will include a cash bar and panel. Get Tickets
Find more details at usopm.org/hof
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