INDIANAPOLIS, April, 28, 2022 – The 2022 USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships will get off to an exciting start on May 12 with an Opening Ceremony that will celebrate, inspire, entertain and educate.

Taking place at the 2.7-acre Tixr Yard adjacent to Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Ariz., from 6-8 p.m., the event will feature appearances from 2020 Olympians Jade Carey and Shane Wiskus, an informative panel on NCAA athlete recruitment and a live performance from a special musical guest.

A 25-minute interactive session on college gymnastics recruiting, featuring seasoned coaches and administrators, will lead off the two-hour program. These experts will discuss all facets of recruiting, from timelines to what coaches look for in a recruit to the small details many people miss. (The men’s-gymnastics-specific NCAA recruiting town hall will be held separately Saturday at 6:15 p.m. in Gym 3 at Bell Bank Park and will be open to athletes and parents.)

Celebrating the more than 1,600 athletes who will compete over the course of the weekend, the parade of athletes also will include remarks from USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung, 2020 Olympic gold medalist on floor exercise Jade Carey, and fellow Olympian and 2021 Nissen-Emery Award winner Shane Wiskus. A full-band set from a special musical guest will wrap up the opening-night celebration.

Athletes and coaches will be able to access the festivities free with their event credentials, and admission to the opening ceremony is included with an all-session ticketing pass for the event. Stand-alone tickets for the Opening Ceremony also will be available for purchase at the Development Program National Championships Welcome Center located at Bell Bank Park just outside the entrance to Fieldhouse B. Tickets for adults ages 18-61 may be purchased for $55. Reduced-rate tickets are available for children and seniors.