Fans Celebrate Olympic Hopefuls

The ‘96 Olympic games are coming to Spokane.

Well, almost.

The United States Olympic wrestling trials will rumble at the Spokane Arena Friday and Saturday.

Some 100 top-flight amateur wrestlers from across the land will jostle, thrash, hurl and pin all in an effort to represent the United States in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Only 10 will make the team.

To welcome the prospective Olympians, past wrestling champions and their families, the organizer of the trials - Star USA is staging FanFest at Riverfront Park in the Central Meadow today through Saturday.

FanFest will be brightened by an international food fair, a beer and wine garden, and a variety of entertainment, including live music from local bands Slightly Red, which plays tonight from 6-9, and Men in the Making, which will perform Saturday from 6-9 p.m.

Additionally, some of the sport’s biggest stars will sign autographs for fans. Gold medalist and retired amateur John Smith will have pen in hand tonight from 7:30-8 and on Saturday from 1:30-2 p.m.

Twelve-time world champion and three-time Olympic medalist (two gold, one silver) Bruce Baumgartner will sign autographs from 1-2 p.m. Friday. Baumgartner is vying for his fourth Olympic medal this year.

Olympic veteran Kendall Cross, also competing this weekend, will sign his John Hancock on Friday from 1-2 p.m.

Admission to FanFest is free. Hours are 6-10 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo