Hedrick To Be Guest Speaker As Commonwealth Games Celebrate 25th Anniversary

Pete Lampman, President of Virginia Amateur Sports, announces last week that Olympic gold medalist Chad Hedrick will be the 2014 motivational speaker for the Subway Commonwealth Games main games weekend July 18-20.
Pete Lampman, President of Virginia Amateur Sports, announces last week that Olympic gold medalist Chad Hedrick will be the 2014 motivational speaker for the Subway Commonwealth Games main games weekend July 18-20.

Chad Hedrick is considered the greatest all around skater in history, earning fifty World Championship medals as an inline skater and five total Olympic medals after switching to ice. 

At the 2006 Winter Olympics, he captured the gold medal in the 5,000 meter event, silver in the 10,000 event and bronze in the 1,500 meter. Hedrick followed in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games by winning a pair of medals (silver and bronze), including the bronze in the ultra-competitive 1,000 meter event. No other skater in history has accumulated five podium appearances. Hedrick was the first man in history to ever skate 10,000 meters ( 6.2 miles ) in under 13 minutes.
Last week the Subway Commonwealth Games of Virginia announced that Hedrick will be this year’s motivational speaker as The Commonwealth Games celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The partnership with the Subway Games and Virginia’s Wounded Warrior Program is slated to continue this summer with the addition of racquetball to the list of competitive opportunities for today’s veterans honoring their sacrifice and empowering their strength to compete with other veterans in the spirit of the Subway Commonwealth Games. Other competitions for veterans will be offered in archery, track and field, bowling, 5K run and shooting.
The overall games will be adding 7 sports to the 2014 competition schedule, including equestrian, rock climbing, pickle ball, team volleyball, adult kickball, cycle cross and weight lifting.
The main games weekend is July 18-20, which kicks off at the Roanoke Civic Center on Friday, July 18th at 4:30 p.m. with the Grand Home Furnishings Athlete Tailgate Party including food provided by Subway, interactive games, music, prizes and more. Later that same evening will be the traditional Opening Ceremonies with Hedrick, Miss Virginia, fireworks, a BMX bike performance and the popular parade of athletes.
Although The Games actually opened in March with figure skating at Charlottesville Main Street Arena, and will continue through November, the main July weekend in the Roanoke Valley hosts the majority of the competition.
Over the past 24 years, The Games have provided an estimated $ 72 million in economic impact on the state and community. Last year alone the figure was $ 3.5 million.
Landon Howard, Executive Director of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau noted, “We are delighted and honored to have the Subway Commonwealth Games played again in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We know that the athletes and their families will have a great time as our industry ” rolls out the red carpet.” The thousands of visitors and their spending will create significant economic impact and jobs for our community.”
By Bill Turner

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