P&G Gymnastics Championships

When gymnastics fans and officials arrive in downtown Indianapolis to watch the USA’s and many of the world’s best gymnasts compete for national honors at the P&G Gymnastics Championships Aug. 13-16, they’ll also be treated to special events and activities in Bankers Life Fieldhouse and on adjacent Georgia Street. For four days, Georgia Street will be transformed into a Brazilian festival featuring “Countdown to Rio” activities in recognition of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, athletes and officials from USA Gymnastics will kick off the P&G Championships Thursday, Aug. 13, at 11 a.m. before the first afternoon of junior women’s competition. Here are fan activities for Georgia Street and inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Georgia Street Activities (free to the public) -Bring your workout gear and participate in a special edition of “Workout Wednesday” led by Olympians Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan in the west block of Georgia Street. Wednesday, Aug. 12, noon to 12:45 p.m. -Kick off the first day of competition with the Circle City’s Taste of the Championships on the west block. Food trucks will offer menu items that feature health conscious items that have been approved by St.Vincent Sports Performance. Participating trucks will also offer discounts for those who present their P&G Gymnastics Championships tickets or credentials. Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. -Official Countdown to Rio activities in the east block include a scavenger hunt and activitiesfor kids such as balance beam skills and creating carnival masks; an interactive live art project that will be unveiled during Sunday’s competition; special gymnastics-themed sand sculpture on a Georgia Street beach; Brazilian music; photo opportunity with the 3-D letter sculpture “Rio.” Local gymnastics clubs will give demonstrations: the Gymnastics Company on Thursday, Dana Mannix Gymnastics and The Flip Zone on Friday, and Fusion Gymnastics and Geist Sports Academy on Saturday. Fan zone is available Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, August 14, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 15, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. -Happy Hour Thursday in the center block of Georgia Street with an Olympic gymnast appearance. Thursday, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Must be 21 to enter -Olympian Shannon Miller will sign copies of her book It’s Not About Perfectin the CNO booth on the east block. Thursday, Aug. 13, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. -Special performance by American Idol Season 12 finalist Angie Miller, outside Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. Saturday, Aug. 15, 6:30 p.m. -Samba lessons, Saturday, Aug. 15, 5:50 p.m. -Capoeira performance. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics and music. Saturday, Aug. 15, 5-5:30 p.m. -DJ Kyle Long entertainment. Saturday, Aug. 15, 3:30-6:30 p.m. -Healthy snack food trucks: Seoulrito, Nicey Treat, Natural Born Juicers. Saturday, Aug. 15, 3:30-6:30 p.m. -Following the Saturday night competition, Brazilian music and light display adjacent to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse -At Monument Circle, just blocks from Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Indianapolis Power & Light Building will have festive lighting each night featuring the Olympic rings and the American flag Bankers Life Fieldhouse activities (event ticket required) -Thirty Empowerment Through Performance banners created by members of gymnastics clubs and other youth organizations from throughout central Indiana will be displayed throughout the championships at the Convention Center and Bankers Life Fieldhouse -AT&T will offer Road to Rio 3D opportunities on a virtual beach -Spectators can enjoy makeovers at the P&G Beauty and Grooming booth, including CoverGirl manicures and makeup application from professional artists. Gillette hot towel shaves will also be available. Participants can learn about CoverGirl, Pantene, Secret, Gillette and Venus and receive samples -Kids can learn about the importance of fitness at the interactive Kellogg's Fitness and Nutrition Zone, which features physical activities in building balance, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular exercise, all of which are fundamental to gymnastics. USA Gymnastics athletes will sign autographs for kids who participate in the zone's activities before each senior session. Guests may also receive free samples of Kellogg’s cereal products -At the Under Armour Performance Center, fans of all ages can demonstrate their gymnastics abilities in three events. Take home a photo of your talents to share. -Healthy food menu items, such as fruits, vegetables and healthy salads, will be available at two concourse concession stands as a part of The Circle City’s Taste of the Championships. The food options meet guidelines provided by St.Vincent Sports Performance -On Friday night, Aug. 14, the first of two competition days for senior men, the 2015 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame class will be recognized. The class includes acrobatic gymnasts Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues of Livermore, Calif.; female gymnasts Mohini Bhardwaj of Los Angeles and Terin Humphrey of Kansas City; rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard of Jacksonville, Fla.; trampoline and tumbling specialist Jennifer Sans of Burnsville, Minn.; men’s gymnastics coach Mark Williams of Norman, Okla.; and Doug Hills of Portland, Ore., and the late Dave Moskovitz will be honored for lifetime achievement. Darren Renna of Boston will receive the 2015 USA Gymnastics Robert Miller Spirit of the Flame Award. -Members of Team Hilton will sign autographs on the concourse Saturday, Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m. One autograph per person will be offered to the first 300 fans. Members of Team Hilton include: Donothan Bailey, Lake Forest, Calif./University of California–Berkeley; Chris Brooks, Houston/U.S. Olympic Training Center; Jake Dalton, Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Jonathan Horton, Houston /Cypress Gymnastics; Marvin Kimble, Milwaukee, Wis./Swiss Turners Gymnastics Academy; Steven Legendre, Norman, Okla./University of Oklahoma; Danell Leyva, Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics; Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif., Eddie Penev, Penfield, N.Y., Paul Ruggeri III, Manlius, N.Y., Donnell Whittenburg, Baltimore, Md., Brandon Wynn, Voorhees, N.J., all with the U.S. Olympic Training Center; and Alexander Naddour, Gilbert, Ariz./USA Youth Fitness Center -Vanessa Atler of Bakersfield, Calif., who tied for the U.S. all-around title in 1997 and won two 1998 Goodwill Games gold medals, will sign her first children’s book, Let the River Flow before the junior sessions on Aug. 13 and 14. Based on Atler’s childhood as a young gymnast, the story is about overcoming setbacks on and off the playing field, as well as striving to do one’s best and enjoy the experience of participating in sports. -Event merchandise, including gymnastics gear, event-specific t-shirts and other items will be available at merchandise booths The Indiana Sports Corporation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana are the local organizers of the P&G Gymnastics Championships. St.Vincent Sports Performance is the official medical and performance nutrition provider of USA Gymnastics and the P&G Gymnastics Championships. Premier level sponsors are Deloitte, Vera Bradley, Kroger and OneAmerica Financial Partners. Local 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. The headquarters for USA Gymnastics has been located in Indianapolis since 1983. Tickets for the P&G Championships may be purchased at Ticketmaster through www.ticketmaster.com.

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