MARQUETTE — The Michigan Sports Alliance announced the Meijer State Games of Michigan-Winter Games will begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Marquette Mountain Resort on M-553.

The event is free to the public. The ceremony will open with a parade of athletes, which the public may participate in. Directly after, 2022 Winter Olympics gold medalist Nick Baumgartner of Iron River will be introduced and available for photos and autographs.

John Kusku, a bronze and silver Paralymic medalist, will also attend. The crowd will take part in the athlete’s oath and listen to messages from sponsor representatives of Meijer and Northern Michigan University.

Krist Oil is sponsoring Honoring Our Veterans with free commemorative challenge coins. Veterans can register online prior to the opening ceremony and on site at the event. A presenter is not necessary to receive a challenge coin, and individuals can register themselves. After presenting the challenge coins to veterans, the torchlight parade starts with skiers at the top of the mountain holding flares and the fire tornado cauldron will be lit, symbolizing the start of the games.

The end of the ceremony will feature fireworks and closing comments. The rail jam competition will begin shortly afterward

“Curling will be Friday morning, then the ceremony, and we’ll have sporting events through the weekend, Executive Director Eric Engelbarts said.

There are volunteer opportunities during the opening ceremony and throughout the Winter Games weekend. Peninsula Fiber Network is the sponsor of the Marquette Winter Games volunteers. Volunteers will receive a free Meijer State Games of Michigan giveaway and free meals (if working over a lunch period) during the games. For more information, visit https://www.stategamesofmichigan.com/winter-games-volunteer.

The Meijer Winter State Games sponsors include Meijer, NMU, Eagle Mine, Peninsula Fiber Network, WZMQ-Channel 19, Travel Marquette, Holiday Inn, Krist Oil, Great Lakes Sport Commission, SAIL Disability Network of the Upper Peninsula and Special Olympics Michigan.

“A lot of sports still have registration open and also have on-site registration, and we’d welcome anybody interested in participating,” Engelbarts said.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.