Olympians with ties to Iowa will be honored with a special ceremony Saturday in Des Moines. Gymnast Gabby Douglas will be among the featured honorees. The Virginia native lived and trained in West Des Moines over the past two years.
Others scheduled to appear at the event include former Iowa State wrestler and gold medalist Jake Varner, hurdler Lolo Jones, former I.S.U. trackster and Fort Dodge native Lisa Uhl and Miranda Leek of Des Moines, who competed in archery.
Ruth Comer is a spokesperson for Hy-Vee, which is organizing the event. “The program will consist of some video highlights of the competition, one-on-one interviews with the athletes, music, dancing and we think we’ve left room for a couple of surprises too,” Comer said.
The free event will take place at Drake University’s Knapp (nap) Center. The doors open at 10 a.m. with the ceremony to begin at 11. “We encourage people to come early so they can get the best seats,” Comer said. “We’re expecting several thousand (people), but there is a lot of room in the Knapp Center.”
Free public parking is available in several lots near the Knapp Center and around the Drake campus.
more information: www.hy-vee.com