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WHAT: Huntsman World Senior Games Opening Ceremonies
WHEN: Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00 pm
WHERE: Hansen Stadium, Dixie State College
ADMISSION: Free to All
Following the pattern of the Olympics, the Huntsman World Senior Games kicks off with a grand Opening Ceremonies. Admission is free to eveyone. The Ceremonies include a parade of athletes, entertainment, fireworks and the traditional lighting of the Huntsman World Senior Games Cauldron. The Huntsman World Senior Games Opening Ceremonies takes place on Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Hansen Stadium on the campus of Dixie State College.
“The Opening Ceremonies is a chance for the athletes and the local residents to come together and celebrate,” Kyle M Case, Games CEO says. The show will feature professional entertainers, special guests and local school children presenting a Flag Extravaganza, highlighting each of the 63 countries that have participated in the Games since 1987.
The special guest speaker at this year's event will be seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller. Shannon Miller remains The Most Decorated American Gymnast, male or female, in history. She is the only American to rank among the Top 10 All-Time gymnasts and is the only female athlete to be inducted into the US Olympics Hall of Fame – Twice! (Individual in 2006 and Team in 2008)
Shannon has won an astounding 59 International and 49 National competition medals. Over half of these have been gold. She is the only US gymnast to win 2 World All-Around Titles. Her tally of five medals (2 silver, 3 bronze) at the 1992 Olympics was the most medals won by a US athlete. At the ’96 Games, she led the “Magnificent Seven” to the US Women’s first ever Team Gold and for the first time for any American gymnast, she captured Gold on the Balance Beam.
She holds a BBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and her law degree from Boston College. Shannon launched her company Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women with a content driven website www.shannonmillerlifestyle.com, partnered with St. Vincent’s HealthCare to host her weekly talk radio show on WOKV and has published a series of fitness and cookbook books, DVD’s and even designed a personal fitness mat to help prevent injuries during at home or gym fitness.
Shannon’s ties to the gymnastics community remain strong. Her broadcasting career has afforded her an opportunity to serve as host, commentator and analyst on a wide range of topics and activities including Olympic and NCAA gymnastics, women’s health and women’s fitness with NBC, ABC, ESPN, MSNBC, Comcast and many more.
In January of 2011, Shannon was diagnosed with Stage 1A Ovarian cancer. She had the baseball sized tumor removed successfully and followed up with 9 weeks of chemotherapy for this rare germ cell malignancy. Shannon has remained open and public about her diagnosis and treatment through the media and her blog “My Journey.” Shannon continues to be a strong advocate for making health a priority. Her message with regard to annual exams and screenings: “Do not delay, do not reschedule, early detection saves lives.”
In addition to her focus on women’s health, Shannon has dedicated her foundation to fighting childhood obesity. The Shannon Miller Foundation currently serves over 7,000 children with the Shannon Miller Foundation Running Club, an in-school program for children ages 5-14, in the Jacksonville area.
As an Olympic gold medalist, wife, mother, health & fitness advocate and, now, cancer survivor, Shannon continues to be a true role model. Through her personal stories of trial and triumph Shannon shares with her audience the idea of “balance” in our efforts to be successful and live a healthy and fit lifestyle. Shannon resides in Jacksonville with her husband, John Falconetti and their son, Rocco.
