Former Olympians coming to Las Vegas for reunion

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Next week at the Tropicana Hotel, the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association will host Reunion 2016 for its members — 4,200 former Summer Olympians; 1,200 from the Winter Games — to come together to celebrate the unique experience of representing their country.

“We want to share our experience and help keep this Olympic flame alive,” said Willie Banks, a three-time track Olympian and the chairman of the committee planning the reunion. “We like to think we are the protector of the ideals of the Olympic movement, that is peace and community involvement.”

More than 300 are scheduled to attend, including notables such as gold medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee, high jump pioneer Dick Fosbury, long jumper Bob Beamon and diving great Greg Louganis.

“A lot of us don’t know each other, but as soon as Olympians meet there is an immediate bond you share,” said Anne Warner Cribbs, the reunion organizer and former national team swimmer. “You represented your country in pursuit of something you love. I don’t care if you are 90 or 18, the bond still exists.”

Locals Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki are helping coordinate the event. Agassi won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The weekend will include a golf tournament and table tennis tournament for association members, who will also be around town giving clinics for children.

The dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 is open to the public for $2,500-$3,000 for a table of eight. For more information, contact Cribbs at [email protected].

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21