Indianapolis, IN
1982 National Sports Festival: A catalyst for Indianapolis’ growth
INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds gathered on the American Legion Mall to witness the opening ceremonies for the fourth Nationwide Sports activities Competition on July 23, 1982.
Ken Barlow of Indianapolis and Becky Liggett of Muncie have been the ultimate two athletes to ship a torch carrying the Competition Flame, which had departed Pikes Peak earlier within the month. Whereas United States Olympic Committee (USOC) President William Simon was the one who formally opened the pageant, it was Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut who exclaimed, “Welcome to Indianapolis, the newbie sports activities capital of the nation!”
1982: Nationwide Sports activities Competition flame lit throughout opening ceremonies
It was the conclusion of a dream years within the making.
Ted Boehm was one in all a number of individuals tasked by the Hudnut Administration with discovering a option to make Indianapolis a extra fascinating place to stay. Boehm recollects the group exploring all kinds of concepts, together with adjustments like bettering town’s air service. However one space appeared to be a slam dunk.
“We shortly centered on a sports activities alternative as a spot that Indianapolis might set up a distinct segment that no place else had,” Boehm mentioned.
The not-for-profit Indiana Sports activities Company was created in 1979, with the aim of constructing Indianapolis an newbie sports activities vacation spot. Boehm would grow to be its first president and CEO.
“At the moment, all we had was the NBA as a rookie franchise workforce,” Boehm mentioned. “And it was nonetheless financially struggling.”
The Hoosier Dome hadn’t been constructed, the Colts have been nonetheless in Baltimore, and Indianapolis was dealingwith nicknames like “Naptown” and “India-no-place.”
However the place others noticed nothing, the Hudnut Administration noticed a possibility.
Going for the gold
The Nationwide Sports activities Competition, later often known as the U.S. Olympic Competition, started in 1978. The premise was to have fun and showcase athletes throughout non-Olympic years. As an alternative of particular person scoring, athletes can be grouped by geographic area (North, South, East and West.)
The primary two festivals have been held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the house of the U.S. Olympic Committee, or USOC. There was no pageant in 1980 as a result of it was an Olympic yr, nonetheless the USA boycotted the video games in Moscow. When the pageant returned in 1981, it was held in Syracuse, New York.
That’s the place a latest school graduate by the identify of Jack Berger first obtained concerned with the USOC.
“I lucked out,” Berger recollects.
A latest graduate of Syracuse College, Berger remembers writing a flurry of press releases for the pageant. His work was additionally seen by a bunch of visiting Hoosiers.
“When the Indianapolis people got here to Syracuse to go searching, they thought it won’t be a foul thought to seize someone that had expertise, not less than with this occasion, and convey them to Indianapolis.”
On the conclusion of the Nationwide Sports activities Competition in Syracuse, Berger loaded up his Chevy Monza and headed to the Hoosier State, turning into the promotions director for the Nationwide Sports activities Competition in Indianapolis.
Town of Indianapolis beat out Philadelphia to land the 1982 Competition. By the point Berger made his option to Indiana, preparations for the pageant have been nicely underway.
“Indianapolis was an enormous leap ahead. The brand new natatorium, the brand new monitor and discipline stadium, the velodrome, that stage of venue simply elevated all the things,” Berger mentioned. “When you may have these sorts of sports activities services, and then you definately add it to a corporation that is aware of mainly what they’re doing and promote, and on prime of that, the company assist of town and the political assist of the group, that was actually nearly one hundred pc. All people thought, nicely, this can be a nice option to let individuals learn about Indianapolis.”
If you happen to construct it, they are going to come
As a way to land the fourth Nationwide Sports activities Competition, town of Indianapolis needed to show it was able to internet hosting the 33 summer season and winter Olympic sports activities, and the 150 occasions that got here with it. From archery to yachting, town would want to make a considerable infrastructure funding to host the pageant.
1982: Indianapolis prepares to host Nationwide Sports activities Competition
By a mixture of private and non-private funds, town constructed a $21-million 5,700-seat natatorium, a $6-million 10,000 seat monitor and discipline stadium, and a $2.5-million 3,000 seat velodrome. A lot of that funding was made attainable by the Lilly Endowment.
“Lilly Endowment was, at that time, supportive of constructing main services and making main monetary monetary contributions to make it occur,” Boehm mentioned.
Not everybody was offered on the thought of constructing sports activities complexes to drive financial development. State senator Julia Carson scoffed on the thought in a 1982 WRTV report.
1982: Mayor Hudnut pushes ahead with newbie sports activities dream
“I don’t consider that you simply use taxpayers’ cash to grow to be the nationwide sports activities capital of the world whereas your cities undergo,” Carson mentioned.
On the time, Indianapolis’ unemployment fee was round 9.6 p.c, and the state of Indiana had an unemployment fee of 12 p.c. Carson likened the spending to purchasing a Mercedes Benz whereas not with the ability to pay for diapers.
In the identical report, Mayor Hudnut’s imaginative and prescient was unwavering.
“I’m satisfied that the efforts we’re making to grow to be the sports activities capital of the nation, will in the long term contribute considerably to combating the outflow of expertise and brains to the Solar Belt,” Hudnut mentioned. “It’s going to give the individuals of Indiana and the nation one thing to establish with.”
Hoosier curiosity results in record-breaking crowds
The Indianapolis sports activities scene was a really completely different place within the early Nineteen Eighties.
“Previous to the Nationwide Sports activities Competition, the one factor Indianapolis actually had going for it have been the Indiana Pacers, and actually, the Pacers have been struggling badly,” former WRTV sports activities reporter Brian Hammons recalled. “They have been simply preventing for survival.”
The Nationwide Sports activities Competition offered a singular alternative to herald quite a lot of sports activities, lots of which have been unfamiliar to most Hoosiers.
“Channel 6 had particular programming each day and plenty of that was spent explaining sports activities to individuals,” Hammons mentioned. “There have been plenty of sports activities like that you simply’d by no means seen earlier than that you simply nearly needed to clarify, that is what you are going to see, and these are the foundations, and that is what is going on to occur.”
And Hoosiers confirmed up.
“Who knew you might promote out a fencing venue or rhythmic gymnastics?” promotions director Jack Berger quipped.
Many occasions noticed record-setting crowds.
“I believe the individuals of Indiana have been curious, you recognize, what, what’s this all about?” Brian Hammons mentioned. “They confirmed up in droves to observe bicycle racing and rhythmic gymnastics and sports activities that you’d by no means see right here.”
Athletes with names you’d acknowledge
The Nationwide Sports activities Competition additionally had extra acquainted Olympic sports activities like diving, swimming and monitor and discipline. It additionally had more and more acquainted names like Evelyn Ashford, Edwin Moses, Greg Louganis and Carl Lewis.
“Carl Lewis was a reputation that you simply’d acknowledge.” Hammons mentioned. “Main as much as that competitors [long jump] they have been speaking that he would possibly beat Bob Beamon’s file as a result of the instances and the distances that they have been going on this new facility have been off the charts.”
Bob Beamon set the world file for lengthy leap at 29 ft. 2.5 in., on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico Metropolis.
Whereas Lewis didn’t formally beat Beamon’s file, he did come shut with a 28 ft. 9 in. leap. Lewis had one leap over 30 ft, but it surely was known as a foul. Nonetheless, it didn’t dampen Lewis’ spirit.
1982: Carl Lewis threatens lengthy leap world file
“I had one leap over 30 ft,” Lewis instructed WRTV in 1982. “That’s what excited me a lot past all the things else, as a result of I didn’t suppose I might do it at altitude. That is my day.”
One other compelling story line was within the males’s 10-meter platform diving competitors. Twenty-two-year-old Greg Louganis was favored to win the occasion.
“Greg Louganis, sort of made his identify right here in Indianapolis and, and that was the primary time we have actually seen Greg Louganis carry out as a diver,” Hammons mentioned.
However it was diver Bruce Kimball who captivated the group. Kimball was severely injured in a head-on freeway collision with a drunk driver the earlier fall, struggling traumatic head accidents that left him close to demise.
Whereas Louganis earned the gold, it was Kimball’s second place end that garnered a standing ovation from the group of seven,000.
1982: Louganis shares highlight in diving finale
“He actually received immediately,” Louganis instructed WRTV in 1982. “I’m so happy with him, his comeback, and he’s again sturdy.”
Louganis would know, he and Kimball had comparable aggressive diving careers.
WRTV just lately spoke with Louganis, who recalled being requested to look out for Kimball whereas at a contest.
“I believe he was 8 and I used to be 13, or one thing, he was, he was actually younger,” Louganis mentioned. “His dad reached out to me earlier than the journey and mentioned, ‘Keep watch over my, my son.’ We have been related method again.”
It was seemingly that private connection that contributed to the tears that stuffed Louganis’ eyes as U.S. Olympic Committee President William Simon positioned the silver medal round Kimball’s neck.
“It was simply a lot for a younger athlete to endure, and get by, and get to the opposite aspect of it,” Louganis mentioned.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — High school basketball season is in full swing in Indiana.
This week on “The Zone Extra,” we highlight Lawrence North boys basketball. The Wildcats have won eight straight games since losing their season opener and are ranked #2 in 4A. Lawrence North boys basketball head coach Chris Griffin joins the show for coaches corner.
The athlete of the week is Roncalli girls wrestling’s Claire May.
Plus, hear from IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig on this week’s edition of Ask The Commissioner.
Also, former Heritage Christian star and current Purdue guard Myles Colvin is featured on the on campus segment.
All of that and more from central Indiana high school sports can be found in the video above.
For more ‘The Zone’ coverage, download the new ‘All Indiana Sports‘ app.
Indianapolis, IN
More snow is on the way in Indiana. What age should I stop shoveling? Is it illegal if I don’t?
From Carmel to Wanamaker, see the sights after the first storm of 2025
Here’s what our team saw in different cities around the area after the first storm of 2025
Another 2-4 inches of snow are expected to arrive in Central Indiana on Friday.
If you are headed out to shovel a path out of your home after the heavy snowfall, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling. Shovelers should seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack, the American Heart Association says.
Research shows that many people may face an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow.
“Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it in a freezer,” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those conditions can very quickly lead to stress on the heart.”
Here’s everything you need to know about snow removal in Indianapolis.
Shoveling heavy snow (4 or more inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service) is a strenuous activity.
According to the American Heart Association, adults over the age of 45 should be cautious when shoveling snow as they may be at higher risk for a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest as a result of shoveling.
If someone has heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, they are at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest as a result of shoveling snow.
Depending on where you live, snow removal might be required by your local government — and it may cost you if you don’t.
You may face fines if your local city ordinance mandates they should be promptly shoveled, and Indianapolis does have such an ordinance. Also if someone is injured after walking on a walkway that you should have shoveled, you could be held responsible.
For more information on when snow should be shoveled and how much the fines are, read the article below.
If you decide to hire someone to shovel your driveway, how much can that cost?
According to Lawn Love, the price of snow removal can vary depending on how large of a driveway, how many walkways and how much snow there is to remove.
In general, Lawn Love says the typical cost per visit for snow removal from a driveway can range $45 to $160. Most companies offering snow removal typically charge anywhere from $25 to $75 an hour. The prices could also vary if you add salt application.
If you’re going to shovel your own snow, the American Heart Association suggests these tips to make sure you are doing so safely:
- Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
- Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
- Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
- Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
- Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
- Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
- Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.
The American Heart Association urges people to learn the signs of a heart attack so they can recognize the signs and to call 9-1-1 immediately if they experience any of those signs.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense like they are shown in movies and TV shows. This is what the American Heart Association calls a “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening.
In reality, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.
Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room. If you can’t access EMS, have someone drive you to the hospital right away.
“I can’t stress enough the urgency of getting proper treatment for a heart attack,” Dr. Gill says. “Don’t die of doubt. If you’re experiencing symptoms or something just doesn’t feel right, go get it checked out. Hospitals offer life-saving treatment.”
Jade Jackson and Monahil Ahmad contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman or Bluesky @katiewiseman
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The redevelopment of the City Market campus in downtown Indianapolis will start on the west side of the block this year, leaders say.
One of the most notable parts will be to take the historic catacombs and expose them for people to see from the street. The West Plaza will be sunken in to expose the catacombs, all while providing recreational green space.
Megan Vukusich, the director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, said Wednesday during a news conference, “We’re working with Indiana Landmarks, which really is helping provide that technical expertise from a historic preservation standpoint, but we are going to be daylighting the catacombs that sit below the West Plaza today, still retaining a portion of them.”
The City Market, located at 222 E. Market St. just south of the City-County Building, was closed March 1. Both the east and west wings of the building will be demolished as a part of this year’s project. They are not historic buildings, although the center Market House is.
Bill Taft, the senior vice president for economic development at the Local Initiatives Support Corp. in Indianapolis, said Thursday, “We were really happy to see this get used for 13 years or at least 12 years as a place where the community came together, and it has become a place that has a lot of great memories for me, and I am a little sad to see it going.”
The redevelopment of West Plaza will be part of the first phase of the project, which will also see a vacant office space known as the Gold Building transformed into 354 apartment units. About 10% of those apartments will be available as affordable housing. The cost will be $185 million, according to a Department of Metropolitan Development news release issued Thursday.
Vukusich said, “We’re excited to bring that building back online as residential units which addresses the need for housing in our community.”
Leaders says the West Plaza green space will serve as an amenity for the community and the people in the new apartments living directly above this area.
Redevelopment of the Market House will start in Phase Two.
A date to start redevelopment of the east side of the block has not yet been determined.
Previous Coverage
U.S. Senate to Launch Cryptocurrency Subcommittee, Lummis Tapped as Chair
SBA Offers Financial Relief to Los Angeles County Businesses and Residents Impacted by Devastating Wildfires
HIIT the Clouds Away: Penni Jones on Her Journey with Fitness and Mental Health – The Sun Times News
Game Changer Movie Review: Ram Charan and Shankar deliver a grand political drama
Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Mapping the Damage From the Palisades Fire
Appeals court will not block partial release of special counsel Jack Smith's Trump report
‘Much more persecution’: Venezuela braces for Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration
Mondale and Ford’s eulogies written for Carter read by sons at funeral
Elon Musk Downplays the Role of Climate in L.A. Fires, Scientists Say
-
Business1 week agoThese are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week agoThe 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week agoThe top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week agoNew Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics7 days agoCarter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics5 days agoWho Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health4 days agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week agoIvory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades