INDIANAPOLIS — As the 2024 Olympic Swim Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium get underway, Indianapolis is once again showing why it is the amateur sports capital of the world.
"Hopefully it's loud," said Blake Raynor. "Hopefully it's a good time. I'm ready to party with everybody and root on Team USA."
The trials haven't been in Indy for nearly 100 years and the city has gone above and beyond to make it an experience for everyone.
It started with a block party Friday on Georgia Street in the heart of downtown.
"I love Indy. This downtown is amazing with all of the restaurants and bars, the town pulling it together and changing the street names to swimmer's is awesome. The town has really done a great job," Alissa Martin said.
Visitors enjoyed live music, food and entertainment, but the party didn't end there. There's also the Toyota Aqua Zone in the Indiana Convention Center and the One America Concert Series for visitors to enjoy.
Raynor was visiting from Illinois.
"This is our first time seeing something like this," said Raynor. "We went to the gymnastics trials in St. Louis. That is nothing compared to what you guys have here."
Alissa Martin is here from Florida. She said she loves swimming and even coaches it. This isn't her first time attending an Olympic swim trial and called it a big deal for any city.
"You're bringing athletes, you're bringing hype, you're bringing money to the cities," she said.
It's an even bigger deal for the athletes.
"The competition is very exciting," said Martin. "The U.S. Swimming Trials are like our mini-Olympics. Probably the top six of each event could make it in the finals in the Olympics in some of the events."
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