NEWS RELEASE
For
immediate release
Contact: Mark Kerns 513-292-8789 event chair, or Ann
Mort 513-649-4506, media relations
August
23, 2012
OLYMPIC GOLD
MEDAL WINNER IN JUDO, KAYLA HARRISON, RETURNS TO MIDDLETOWN
On
Tuesday, August 28, 2012, Kayla Harrison, the first American to win a gold
medal in Judo will return to her hometown, Middletown, Ohio, to celebrate her
success in London, England.
Her
first day home since her Olympic experience in London, England, will be busy
with visits to the Middletown City Schools where she attended through grade 10.
In
the evening, beginning at 6 pm, Kayla, her family and her Middletown School
coach Darlene Wolfe will be escorted through the downtown streets of Middletown
in a motorcade consisting of a police escort, fire truck and marching band. The motorcade will begin near the Post Office
at the corner of Reinartz Boulevard and Verity Parkway and travel south on
Verity turning right on Central Avenue, right on Main Street and right into the
City Building driveway. Fans are encouraged to line the motorcade route with
flags, signs and cheers.
Middletown
Mayor Larry Mulligan said, “We want to invite anyone and everyone to join us in
welcoming Kayla home. Students from surrounding schools, people from other
communities, judo athletes, and those who want to show their support for her
hard won award are all invited to the gathering.”
The
evening program will begin at approximately 6:30 with Mark Kerns, chair of the
Welcome Kayla Home event, introducing her to the guests on the Plaza. The StartSkydiving.com skydivers will bring
in a huge American Flag along with other flags to welcome her back to
Middletown. The Middletown High School
Marching Band will play the Star Spangled Banner as the flags come into the
plaza.
Middletown
Mayor Larry Mulligan will introduce elected officials, representatives of the
business community, schools and others who will make presentations to Kayla.
Ms.
Harrison will speak to the crowd for a few minutes before the closing of the
day with a balloon release and the Middie Band. A few surprises and special
music will also be included in the evening of celebration.
Kayla
attended Middletown schools through 10th grade when she moved to the
Boston area for her last two years of high school and the judo training program
available there.
Her
parents and grandparents live in Middletown and are looking forward to her
triumphant return, as are her former teachers, classmates and thousands of
school children and community friends and neighbors.
Guests
are invited to bring their own lawn chairs.
In
case of inclement weather, the evening celebration will move to Grace Baptist
Church near the I-75 Exit 32.
Note
to media: A news conference with Kayla
Harrison will be held at Middletown High School on Tuesday afternoon 2:45 to
3:15 in the high school media center. If
you are planning to attend, please email mailto:RMort@cinci.rr.com - RMort@cinci.rr.com or call Ann
Mort 513-649-4506. We want to
accommodate all media and need a count for seating.