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Opening soccer ceremonies today
Nanna's 64 Diner welcomes visitors for the soccer tournament on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Cars filled with thousands of people from 13 states will be driving around the Tri-State beginning Thursday, July 2, as the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region I Championships begin.
About 5,000 players and 16,000 parents, coaches and referees will be shopping, eating and visiting sites from Ashland to Charleston in between games and team activities. Businesses, government officials, residents and volunteers have joined forces to welcome the visitors and help conduct the tournament.
Marshall University is hosting the opening ceremonies, which begin at 2 p.m. today at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington. Len Rogers, the president of the West Virginia Soccer Association, said they performed a walk-through on Wednesday and everything went according to plan.
"It went great," Rogers said. "We're ready to go."
That event is free and open to the public.
Soccer-themed activities during the opening ceremonies include a cross bar elimination competition and the five-on-five mascot soccer game.
The 82nd Airborne Division's All American Free Fall Team is scheduled to parachute into the stadium, bringing with them Gov. Joe Manchin's written proclamation regarding the tournament. A 750-square-foot flag will be rolled out onto the field while the 249th West Virginia Army National Guard Band plays "America the Beautiful."
In an Olympic-style ceremony, all 280 teams will walk around the stadium's inside track, holding their state flags and team banners.
Then, players from the 1997 Region 1 Championship team, the only West Virginia team to win the championships in any age division, will pass the torch around the track and light a caldron that will mark the beginning of the tournament.
For the next six days, about 280 soccer teams from 13 states will compete in the boys and girls tournaments. Among the states represented are New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware. The tournament will come back to the region next summer as part of a two-year agreement.
The tournament is expected to bring with it a $12.5 million economic boost for the Tri-State, as hotels from Ashland to Charleston are booked all through the tournament.
Huntington alone is expected to receive between $7 million and $7.5 million in tourism money from tournament-goers.
Games will be played at the Barboursville Soccer Complex inside the Barboursville City Park and the YMCA Kennedy Center on W.Va. 2.
Rogers said the soccer players were to arrive Wednesday and Thursday. Some will be traveling with entire teams, while others will be driving down with their families, Rogers said.
Practice areas have been set up from Barbousville to Charleston for teams who want to get a few kicks in before games begin on Friday. Coaches also will register their teams from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Pullman Square in Huntington.
After the opening day, the various teams will be involved in pool play, traveling to and from the two tournament field sites. Tournament pool play is from Friday to Sunday. The semi-finals will be played Monday, and finals will be played Tuesday.
While games are being played at the fields, Tri-State residents are warned to avoid Barboursville as the thousands of soccer players, parents, coaches, referees, tournament volunteers and spectators will be driving to the games, according to Cabell County officials.
To avoid confusion and traffic, participants and local residents should know the preferred route to get to Barboursville Park's Soccer Complex and the fields at the YMCA Kennedy Center.
For those going to Barboursville, the route posted on the soccer tournament's Web site asks travelers to take the 29th Street Exit (No. 15) and head east on U.S. 60. Turn right onto Alt. W.Va. 10. Turn left at 4-H Camp Road and follow it to the soccer fields.
The traffic leaving the fields will be diverted to Martha Road out of the park's main entrance, while others will exit the way they came in.
To get to the Kennedy Center, participants are being encouraged to use I-64's Exit 18, take the Merritt Creek Connector to W.Va. 2 and turn left.
For detailed schedules of the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships, go to www.westvirginia2009.com.
The opening ceremonies for the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships begin at 2 p.m. today, July 2, at Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Free parking is located in various lots around the stadium within walking distance. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.
Here is a schedule of events for the tournament. For more detailed schedules for the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships, go to www.westvirginia2009.com.
Thursday, July 2
2 p.m. Stadium opens to the public, VIP rooms open, rock band entertainment will begin, soccer video on jumbo screen begins, signup for Marshall tours and other planned activities.
2:30 p.m. Cross Bar Elimination Competition contestants report to Gate C.
3:00 p.m. Cross Bar Elimination Competition begins.
3:10 p.m. Mascots report to gate.
3:25 p.m. 5 vs. 5 soccer game between the mascots on field.
3:40 p.m. All players and refs must be seated on the east side of stadium in designated area.
3:42 p.m. Movie about Marshall University/Huntington area/West Virginia on jumbo screen.
3:50 p.m. The 82nd Airborne Division's All American Free Fall Team parachutes into the stadium, bringing a proclamation from Gov. Joe Manchin.
4 p.m. Ceremony begins with opening greetings from Sen. Bob Plymale, master of ceremonies, and West Virginia Soccer Association President Len Rogers. Flag roll out as the 249th West Virginia Army National Guard Band plays "America the Beautiful" sung by Randall Reid Smith.
"Star Spangled Banner" played by the band and sung by Smith and a fly-by proclamation and greetings from Manchin, local officials, and U.S. Youth Soccer Officials.
Music by band resumes and players begin to line up for parade. Parade begins, names of teams are provided by commentator.
All players and referees are on the field.
Torch Run -- Lighting of the caldron by the 1997 WV Region I Champions
Friday, July 3
8 a.m. Boys pool play begins.
8 a.m. Girls pool play begins
Saturday, July 4
8 a.m. Boys pool play begins.
8 a.m. Girls pool play begins
Sunday, July 5
8 a.m. Boys pool play begins.
8 a.m. Girls pool play begins
Monday, July 6
8 a.m. Boys semifinals begin
8 a.m. Girls semifinals begin
Tuesday, July 7
8 a.m. Boys finals begin
8 a.m. Girls finals begin
Blake Shelton - Well Lit and Amplified Tour 2012 
First United Methodist Church Dinner Theater: "Bitsy and Boots in the Tropics" 
ARTS presents "Love Letters" 
BASKETBALL: Marshall vs. East Carolina 
26th Annual Bill Morris Bluegrass Band Competition 
Someone to Watch Over Me 
Mountain Stage: Fountains of Wayne 
Keller Williams 
"In The Heights" 
BASKETBALL: Marshall vs. Houston 
