University of Colorado Colorado Springs Chancellor Venkat Reddy, Mayor John Suthers and other Olympic City USA representatives will celebrate the Olympians and Paralympians who attended UCCS with the dedication of the new Olympians & Paralympians Among Us sculpture. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 30 at 5:30 p.m. on the UCCS campus.
The program will include remarks from eight-time Olympic Medalist Apolo Ohno and Olympic gold medalist Amber English.
As home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Headquarters, more than 25 National Olympic Governing Bodies and 50 National Sport Organizations, the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, Colorado Springs is Olympic City USA. More than 15,000 athletes travel to Colorado Springs to train at the OPTC each year. When they aren’t training, many athletes choose UCCS to start or continue their educational pursuits. This sculpture initiative honors the unique dedication of these student-athletes.
The sculpture features five eight-inch-wide metal spirals in red, blue, green, yellow and grey, rising out of the base to a height of approximately 30 feet. Around the upper tier of the sculpture are plaques honoring UCCS Olympians and Paralympians by the year/city of participation. As more Olympic Games are completed, additional plaques will be added to the upper tier of the sculpture base. The sculpture is located in the plaza next to the University Center.
There are a number of project partners involved in the donor funded creation of this sculpture, including the artist, Bernard Sandoval, Springs Fabrication, G.E. Johnson and the Olympic City USA Task Force.
Event Details:
When: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. Remarks begin at 5:45 P.M.
Where: UCCS University Center Lower Plaza 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, 80918