In a fusion of community spirit and aquatic ambition, Indianapolis is gearing up to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials next month. This monumental event, taking place from June 15 to 23, marks a crescendo of the city’s vibrant sports culture, which has been nurtured diligently by the Indiana Sports Corp (ISC) since its inception in 1979.
Under the slogan “All Lanes Lead to Indy,” the city is poised to deliver an unparalleled experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of a sporting event. A rigorous bidding process that started in the summer of 2020 led to the selection of Indianapolis for the trials. The ISC, founded as the nation’s first sports commission, has been a catalyst for Indianapolis’ transformation, championing a triad of strategies involving events, venues and sporting organizations to rejuvenate the downtown area.
Indy’s commitment shines through in the meticulous planning for the trials, involving an extensive local organizing committee led by passionate swim enthusiast Scott Davison, and Karin Sarratt of OneAmerica Financial. This committee embodies the soul of Indianapolis, contributing to the event’s success from marketing to community impact. With over 6,000 volunteer shifts available during the nine-day event, anyone volunteering for three or more shifts will receive a gold-medal medallion as a token of the city’s appreciation.
Lucas Oil Stadium will be the host venue for the trials, which will feature two 50-meter pools and one 25-meter pool, replacing the turf and the first 12 rows of stadium seats – a first for an NFL stadium. This initiative encapsulates the city’s innovative approach, ensuring a splash in sporting history. The pools will also be a testament to sustainability, filled with water from the White River and returned post-event, treated on both ends by Citizens Energy Group, symbolizing the cyclical nature of the city’s resourcefulness.
The event not only showcases athletic prowess, but also highlights Indy’s commitment to inclusivity and safety. With a mission to train 50,000 individuals in swim and water safety by the end of 2024, the ISC is targeting underserved communities and partnering with local organizations to promote life-saving swimming skills. This is part of a broader strategy to introduce more people to swimming, not just as a sport, but as a critical life skill. Swimming is the only sport you can learn that can save your life, so this educational push on water and swim safety is a cornerstone of the ISC’s objectives for the trials.
In addition to aquatic excellence, the event will transform Indy into a festival-like atmosphere. Numerous free concerts, the Toyota Aqua Zone, USA Swimming Live on Georgia Street, and the Starting Block Party exemplify the celebratory spirit. These festivities will be complemented by a 100-year anniversary nod to the 1924 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held at Broad Ripple Park, with a 66-foot Eiffel Tower crafted by Latinas Welding Guild, connecting the past to the present. Some of the tiling from the 1924 pool in Broad Ripple Park is still visible today.
Moreover, the ISC’s Indy Goes For Gold program will mesh the sporting extravaganza with the local community, offering promotional benefits to ticket holders. Select local businesses and venues will be offering gold-medal deals and offers as part of this program.
As Indianapolis prepares to become the amphitheater for Olympic dreams, the magnitude of the trials is evident. Over a thousand athletes will vie for 52 coveted spots on the U.S. Olympic swim team.
For Indianapolis, the trials are far more than a gateway to Olympic glory; they are a celebration of a city united by sports and the spirit of community. The event represents a synthesis of athletic excellence, civic pride and a shared commitment to the future, where every stroke in the pool reflects the pulse of a city ready to make a difference.
As competitors push their limits in the water, Indianapolis embraces the opportunity to showcase its transformed landscape, its warm hospitality and its readiness to lead as a model for other cities. The legacy of the 2024 swim trials will resonate long after the races have finished, echoing as an enduring testament to the city’s dedication to sport, safety and the community. As all eyes turn to Indy, it stands as a beacon of innovation and unity, demonstrating how sport can transcend competition and become a powerful force for collective achievement and positive change.
