Opening Ceremony Special Guests

Fox 5 Sports Anchor Duke Castiglione

Duke Castiglione joined Fox 5 in June 2007 as sports anchor. He also hosts "Sports Extra" on Sundays at 10:30 pm. Castiglione covered the New York Giants' remarkable run to and subsequent win of Super Bowl 42, including serving as host for Fox 5's post-game show live from the field. Throughout his career, Castiglione has landed a number of key breaking news interviews, including the first one-on-one with Johnny Damon when he joined the New York Yankees. Previously, Castiglione spent three years as the morning sports anchor and reporter for New York's WCBS-TV. He is a recipient of the Associated Press award for "Best Sports Show" and two Black Journalist Awards for his interviews with Lawrence Taylor and Bernard King. Learn more about Castiglione.

NBA Legend John Starks

John Starks played eight seasons with the New York Knicks from 1990 to 1998. He is most remembered for his fierce tenacity, desire to win and tremendous heart—and for being an extremely popular and beloved Knicks personality. Starks was at the center of one of the most famous plays in Knicks history, which has now become known as "The Dunk." During a 1993 playoffs series against the Chicago Bulls, Starks was being closely guarded by B.J. Armstrong. Patrick Ewing attempted to set a screen for Starks, who faked to the left and then inspired awe by driving along the baseline and dunking over Horace Grant with his left hand. Starks is also the Knicks' all-time leader in three-point field goals (982), and he was the first player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers in one season. Learn more about Starks.

Olympic Medalist Teresa Edwards

Basketball star Teresa Edwards played at the University of Georgia where she led her Bulldogs team to two Final Four appearances, three SEC titles and was selected three times in a row for All-SEC First Team Honors.  With the WNBA, she played for the Minnesota Lynx from 2003 - 2004.  Her career also took her to the Olympics, with very notable results: she is most the decorated player in the history of USA basketball (four gold medals and one bronze) and the only American basketball player, male or female, to compete in five Olympics.  She also served as the Chef de Mission for the 2012 United States Olympic Committee.  Learn more about Edwards.

Manhattan Deputy Borough President Rosemonde Pierre-Louis

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis was appointed Manhattan Deputy Borough President in 2005 and is responsible for overseeing several of Borough President Stringer's key initiatives related to transportation, infrastructure, domestic violence, food justice and security, sustainability, the environment, criminal justice and the unprecedented reform of Manhattan's 12 Community Boards. In particular, the Deputy Borough President has become a champion for food justice and equity issues in the borough, especially in low-income communities. Prior to becoming Deputy Borough President, she served as the first Legal Director for inMotion, which was known as "Network for Women's Services" at the time. She is the recipient of numerous awards which include the Leon Bogues Award from the NYS Association of Black and Latino Legislators and the Women United in Philanthropy Award from the United Way of New York City. In 2010 Pierre-Louis was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations Foundation for her work and advocacy for Haiti and its Diaspora. In 2011 she also received the Public Service and Leadership Award from the West Indian American Day Carnival Association. Learn more about Pierre-Louis.