For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0687
sports@stlouissports.org

ST. LOUIS' OLYMPIC CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION SET FOR JUNE 17 ON ART HILL IN FOREST PARK

ST. LOUIS – June 3, 2004 – St. Louis will mark the 100 th anniversary of its 1904 Olympic Games and the end of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay with a celebration on Art Hill in Forest Park Thursday, June 17. St. Louis' Olympic Centennial Celebration will begin at 7:30 p.m. It will include appearances by former Olympians, music by members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, a look back at the 1904 Games, fireworks, and the culmination to the Olympic Torch Relay through St. Louis.

The event is free to the public. Spectators are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the show, which will lead up to the arrival of the Olympic flame at Art Hill at approximately 8:45 p.m. Jackie Joyner-Kersee , one of the world's greatest athletes, will serve as St. Louis' final torchbearer. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and East St. Louis native will light the Torch Relay cauldron located on a stage that will be built for the Celebration at the base of Art Hill.

In commemorating the centennial of the 1904 Games – the first Olympics to take place in America – the event will also pay tribute to the legendary athletes and great moments that have been part of the U.S. Olympic movement's past 100 years. Olympians from St. Louis and around the Midwest have been invited to attend the Celebration.

In addition to Joyner-Kersee, athletes scheduled to appear include Shannon Miller , a seven-time Olympic medalist in gymnastics; Bonnie Blair , a five-time Olympic gold medalist in speed skating; Sammie Henson , a graduate of Francis Howell High School who won the silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympics; Wendy Williams , a native of Bridgeton who won the bronze medal in diving at the 1988 Olympics; Craig Virgin , a three-time Olympian in track and field from Lebanon, Ill.; and Connie Teaberry, a 1996 Olympian from Florissant, Mo. Additional names will be announced before the Celebration. KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5 anchor Mike Bush will emcee the event, which will be televised live by the NBC affiliate.

Prior to the Celebration on Art Hill, the Olympic flame will travel 34 miles around the St. Louis region. The Olympic Torch Relay in St. Louis begins at 1 p.m. on June 17 at the base of the steps of the Gateway Arch. St. Louis is one of only four American cities and one of only 34 cities worldwide that are part of the first-ever global Torch Relay. An end-of-day community celebration is taking place in every city on the route. But only one city can use the occasion to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of its Olympic Games.

“As an organization that sees great value in promoting our region's Olympic legacy, it has been our goal to put together an event in 2004 that would celebrate St. Louis' Olympic centennial,” said St. Louis Sports Commission President Frank Viverito . “We're thrilled to have the chance to carry out this vision and delighted that the Celebration can coincide with the Olympic Torch Relay.

“Our place in Olympic history is something that many of us take for granted or don't even realize,” said Viverito. “But when you consider the class of cities that has hosted the Summer Games, you understand that St. Louis is among exclusive company, and our Olympic legacy should be treasured and celebrated. We'll have a wonderful opportunity to do that on June 17.”

Partnering with several civic entities, the Sports Commission has taken the lead in organizing the Olympic Centennial Celebration. Significant support for the project has come from the City of St. Louis, St. Louis 2004, the St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, the St. Louis Fire Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Downtown St. Louis Partnership and Washington University. Local contributors include The Spark Agency, E. Desmond Lee, FastSigns of Bridgeton, KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5, Planet Do It, Premier Rentals, the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, '62 Sports Group, and Waylon Ad, Inc.

The Celebration is sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee, Central States Coca-Cola Bottling Company of St. Louis, and Samsung. Coca-Cola and Samsung are the presenting sponsors of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. Both sponsors will have interactive activities and commemorative giveaways for spectators at the Celebration.

For more information on St. Louis' Olympic Centennial Celebration and the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, log on to www.stlsports.org and click on the Olympic Torch Relay logo. Both events are part of Celebrate 2004 – the region's yearlong civic celebration marking the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark expedition, the centennial of the World's Fair and Olympics in St. Louis, and recent revitalization accomplishments.

SPECTATOR GUIDE TO THE CELEBRATION

WHAT TO BRING: Spectators attending the Celebration are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair as there will be open seating on Art Hill. Spectators will be permitted to bring their own food into the venue. A small number of vendors will be selling food and water. Coca-Cola products will also be available. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the park.

WHERE TO PARK: Parking options for spectators attending the Celebration include the St. Louis Zoo north and south lots (free after 7 p.m.), the lower and upper Muny lots, Washington University, and on the streets throughout Forest Park (as permitted by law). The east and west circle lots atop Art Hill and the Art Museum parking lot will be reserved for handicapped parking and parking pass holders. In addition, there will be no parking allowed on Lagoon Drive between Fine Arts Drive and the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Attendees with a vehicle disability placard or license plate may park in the east and west circle lots atop Art Hill or in the Art Museum parking lot. Street parking will also be reserved south of The Boat House.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO & SERVICES: Deaf Inter-Link will provide sign language interpreting services for the Celebration. People with disabilities requesting accommodations should call 314-206-7385. Advance notice is appreciated (minimum of 48 hours is requested).

FUN FACT TO NOTE: St. Louis' Olympic Centennial Celebration will take place on the anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's return to St. Louis following his historic transatlantic flight. On June 17, 1927, thousands of St. Louisans gathered on Art Hill to give Lindbergh a hero's welcome. Seventy-seven years later – to the date – St. Louisans will gather on Art Hill for yet another memorable event.