
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990                   TAG: 9007030061
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ELLIE SCHAFFZIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CEREMONY TO BE JUST LIKE THE REAL THING

If you've doubted the authenticity of the upcoming Virginia CorEast State Games, here's proof these amateur olympics are legitimate: an opening ceremony, complete with show tunes, high school bands and fireworks.

"I don't think you're going to see 100 grand pianos playing simultaneously. . . . We hope to get to that point eventually, though," said Bob Hartman, games director.

The ceremony will take place on Friday at Roanoke's Victory Stadium and will open with James Madison University's singing and dancing "Madisonians." Other performers are Dennis Reaser's house band and an all-star band from Roanoke Valley high schools. Lt. Governor Don Beyer will speak at the ceremony, the finale of which will include a parade by many of the games' 3,300 athletes.

"The concept here is that they want to put on a total olympic package," said Pat Rooney, director of bands at JMU and coordinator of the ceremony.

Rooney was involved in the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and he says the Virginia ceremony will be close to the real thing.

"It's a different scale . . . but it's going to be a well-done production, considering it's the first year," he said.

And one musn't forget the torch, which will be carried into the stadium by a surprise runner. The torch began its two-week journey across the state last Monday on the capitol steps in Richmond. Torch-bearers are amateur runners, including city mayors and some disabled athletes who will carry the torch in wheelchairs.

Following the ceremonies will be a concert featuring Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. To be admitted to the ceremonies and concert, specators must wear State Games buttons that cost $3 each.

Buttons can be purchased at any Sovran Bank, Burger King or CorEast Savings Bank location in the Roanoke Valley. Buttons are also on sale at the WROV-AM and FM offices at 15th and Cleveland in Southwest Roanoke. The stations will also sell buttons at the monthly "First Fridays at Five" gathering at Century Plaza this Friday, and there will be shuttle buses running from the gathering to Victory Stadium between 6 p.m. and midnight.

by CNB