The 2012 Olympic Trials plans to open with flare. Events begin Friday at 1 p.m., while opening ceremonies are scheduled for 4 p.m. and are expected to last about 30 minutes.
The national anthem will be sung by the Pacific International Children’s Choir, which will be featured at the Oregon Bach Festival.@@checked@@
“(They are) a group of children who truly sound like angels” said Marilyn Milne, a spokesperson for the TrackTown12 local organizing committee.
A flyover done by the Marines will follow the national anthem.
Seven former Olympic gold-medalist decathlons will be honored. Jim Thorpe, the 1912 Gold medal Decathlon champion, will be represented by his two sons on hand, Bill and Richard. The other champions to be honored are Milt Campbell (1956), Rafer Johnson (1960), Bill Toomey (1968), Bruce Jenner (1976), Dan O’Brien (1996) and Bryan Clay (2008).@@all checked@@
The top three finishers in Thursday’s hammer throw event in Beaverton, Ore., will be honored as well.