A free fan interactive experience held in conjunction with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, the USA Swimming Aqua Zone will occupy more than 90,000 square feet – nearly two football fields – in the Qwest Center Omaha convention center, which is adjacent to the competition arena.
There will be daily appearances from Olympic legends such as Matt Biondi, Donna de Varona, Mary T. Meagher, Debbie Meyer, Pablo Morales, John Naber, Mark Spitz, Mel Stewart and Jenny Thompson. Plus, there will be appearances from swimmers who make the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.
The USA Swimming Aqua Zone will be open Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, June 29, through Sunday, July 6, from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Though admission is free, attendees are encouraged to donate to the USA Swimming Foundation. A portion of the money raised will stay in Omaha to fund swimming lessons for underprivileged children in the area. USA Swimming sponsor Speedo will match up to $25,000 in donations received for this cause.
“USA Swimming is thrilled to offer the ultimate swimming fan experience with the Aqua Zone,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming Executive Director. “From meeting swimming legends to participating in entertaining exhibits, the Aqua Zone has something fun for everyone.”
Aqua Zone exhibits and interactive displays will be presented by USA Swimming and USA Swimming partners. Aqua Zone fan offerings scheduled at this time include:
- Measure up to your favorite athlete, challenge an Olympian to swimming on the Wii and play the trivia game show with USA Swimming.
- Be one of the first to compete and play “Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games” before it hits store shelves in July.
- Meet and greet a legend of the sport during the Athlete Journey on the USA Swimming stage.
- Experience the wildlife of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Adventure Tour.
- Shop for Olympic Trials, Beijing and Speedo merchandise in the USA Swimming Store.
- See how the pool was built inside the Qwest Center at the Myrtha Pools exhibit.
- Create your own commercial at the Toyota Moving Forward Studios.
- Omaha is the center of the swimming universe for the week of the Trials, so learn how the athletes got here with the Omaha Sports Commission.
- Learn about the ground-breaking technology behind the latest LZR swim suit from Speedo’s AquaLab.
- Test the latest mobile and digital technology from AT&T.
- Come relax and get your picture taken in the Hilton resort display.
- Create a cheer card for the Olympic Team with the USA Swimming Foundation.
- Watch live reports and broadcasts from Swimnetwork.com.
- Test your reflexes off the blocks with the American Swimming Coaches Association.
