Opening
Ceremonies

• Athlete Meet & Greet with Alex Gordon, Eric Crouch & Chuck Long
• Parade of Athletes
• Skydivers
• National Anthem
• Oath of Athletes
• Mascot Showcase
• Super Retriever Series Demo
• Torch Lighting
• Fireworks

Torch lighter Alex Gordon will meet with athletes at a meet-and-greet prior to the Ceremonies on the adjacent Den Hartog Field. The meet-and-greet will take place from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. near home plate of the storied—and recently refurbished—Lincoln baseball stadium.  Staging for the Parade of Athletes will take place around the outfield warning track following the meet-and-greet.

Gordon will be joined at the meet-and-greet by 2020 Mystery Torchlighter Eric Crouch, who won the 2001 Heisman Trophy and 1985 Heisman Runner-Up Chuck Long, will be on-hand officially as the Director of the 2022 State Games of America, which will be held in Ames/Des Moines, IA.

While athletes are waiting for the parade of athletes to begin they will get to cool off with an ice cream treat courtesy of Hiland Dairy.

The Opening Ceremonies begins with the Parade of Athletes, led by Honorary Parade Marshal Gene Haynes, recently-retired and long-time athletic director/principal of Omaha North High School. The Opening Ceremonies Parade of Athletes is sponsored by J & H Specialty Contracting.

Here, the stars of the show, Cornhusker State Games athletes, get rock-star treatment, entering the stadium under a fogging archway, waving commemorative parade flags in front of the grandstands to cheers and applause before taking their seats in the east stadium. 

Next, the skydiving exhibition takes place, sponsored by Crete Carrier. Skydivers from the Lincoln Sport Parachute Club then make their entrance from above, followed by the presentation of colors by the Nebraska National Guard. The Star-Spangled Banner will be performed by the Big Red Alumni Pep Band, sponsored by Amigos/Kings Classic.

Athletes will then recite the Oath of Athletes.

Several lovable local mascots will be on hand for the annual CSG Mascot dash joining perennial Champion Sporty (Nebraska Sports Council) will be UNL’s Lil’ Red, Runza Rex and the Chick-fil-A Cow.

The shining moment of every CSG Opening Ceremonies is the caldron-lighting by a former Husker and Kansas City Royals baseball player Alex Gordon. The 2020 Mystery Torchlighter for the virtual Opening Ceremonies, Eric Crouch, will be on hand to pass the torch to this year’s Torchlighter. Following the torch lighting, is the opening declaration from the CSG Honorary Chairman.

The Ceremonies conclude with a rousing fireworks display, sponsored by Hyland Software.

Admission to Opening Ceremonies is FREE!

Gates open at 6:30 p.m.