June 29, 2021

Olympic City USA is Ready for the Summer Olympics

With the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympic Games taking place from July 23 to Aug. 8 and the Paralympic Games coming up from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5, Colorado Springs is gearing up for a busy season of events. Known as Olympic City USA, the region is recognized as the heart of the nation’s Olympic and Paralympic movement more than a mile above sea level. Athletes and coaches have long identified Colorado Springs as the epicenter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements. USA Today named the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs as the nation’s best new attraction in 2020. Colorado Springs is also home to the brand new Hybl Center—a world-class destination merging training with sports medicine. Ultimately, the region boasts incredible natural training grounds with educational, medical, technological, and cultural assets.

Take a Tour of Olympic Proportions in Colorado Springs

Take a tour of Olympic proportions around Colorado Springs. The city is home to more than 20 national governing bodies and 50-plus national sport organizations. Below are facilities that you can tour to get to know Olympic City USA a little better:

  • The S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center is the flagship training center for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center programs. Plus, more than 15 other member organizations are located in Colorado Springs.
  • The S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened in 2020 and offers an unforgettable experience by capturing the history of Team USA in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its mission is to honor the ideals and document the history of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements. Take a day to explore the many interactive exhibits throughout the museum and feel what it is like to compete like an Olympian!
  • The World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame is a repository for the sport of figure skating. The video and film collection consists of over 3,500 items and dates from the 1920’s.
  • The World Arena Ice Hall is one of the finest training facilities in the world, home to dozens of world-class figure skaters and coaches like the Broadmoor Skating Club, Colorado Gold Speedskating Club, The Broadmoor Curling Club, and numerous hockey leagues. It contains two sheets of ice—one NHL and one Olympic—and attracts athletes from all over the world.
  • Train like Olympians and Paralympians at the Manitou Incline and gain nearly 2,000 feet of elevation over less than 1 mile. This trail is one of the most unique and challenging trails in the country. It attracts runners, military, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and hiking enthusiasts.

End the tour with a celebration downtown on Saturday, July 31 from 1 – 8 PM. The Downtown Celebration – Tokyo will celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the 2021 Summer Olympic Games. A city-wide event that is free and open to the public and will feature the KOAA broadcast of the Olympic Games on the big screen, live entertainment, food, National Governing Body exhibitions, a beer garden, and more.

Training a New Wave of Talent in Colorado Springs

The Hybl Center serves elite, amateur, and occupational athletes, as well as individuals who simply desire to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. The partnership between University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Penrose St. Francis Centura Health places an emphasis on the center’s programs and amenities. Penrose-St. Francis operates clinics for orthopedic sports medicine, primary care sports medicine, occupational therapy, athletic training, and more. The center allows the UCCS exercise science program to expand to 1,000 students and the human anatomy and physiology program to expand to 500 students. UCCS is training the next generation of medical professionals right here in Colorado Springs.

Contact us to learn more about why Colorado Springs is the ideal place to train, live a healthy lifestyle and pursue a career in the growing sports industry.

Header Image Photo Credit of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum: Jason O’Rear