INDIANAPOLIS---During a ceremony held today in the White River State Park, the NCAA celebrated its partnership with the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana and highlighted the 2005 Women’s Final Four, to be held in Indianapolis next spring.

In addition, NCAA officials unveiled the 2006 NCAA Men’s Final Four and NCAA Centennial logos at the celebration event. Both the 2005 Women’s Final Four and the 2006 Men’s Final Four will be held in Indianapolis at the RCA Dome. NCAA President Myles Brand also announced that the 2011 Women’s Final Four will be hosted by Indianapolis, Butler University and the Horizon League.

“In February of this year the NCAA signed a long-term agreement with the Indiana Sports Corporation (ISC) and the State of Indiana as part of a commitment to hosting a major event in Indianapolis every year for the next 30 years,” Brand said. “It is the NCAA’s way of showing its dedication to being a good citizen of central Indiana. It is my pleasure today to talk about – and celebrate with you – four special events coming to Indianapolis in the very near future.”

According to the Memorandum of Understanding between the NCAA and ISC, a number of high-profile events will be brought to Indianapolis on an ongoing basis. The events include the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours, preliminary round games of the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships and the NCAA Convention.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a series of milestones which ISC, working with the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana, must achieve in order to trigger the NCAA’s commitment to bring the events to Indianapolis on an ongoing basis.

At Tuesday’s event, Carolene Mays, who serves as co-chair of the Indianapolis local organizing committee along with Susan Williams and Melina Kennedy, and Lynn Parkes, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and associate athletics director, University of Memphis, spoke about the 2005 Women’s Final Four.

The 2006 Men’s NCAA Final Four logo was unveiled by Tom Jernstedt, NCAA executive vice president; Craig Littlepage, athletics director, University of Virginia; and John Parry, athletics director at Butler University.

Brand unveiled the NCAA Centennial logo with Indianapolis Chief Deputy Mayor Mike O’Conner who also spoke at the event.

“Thank you all for your significant contributions to Indiana, NCAA and most of all, thank you for supporting student-athletes through your support of the NCAA,” Brand said. “They are the reason we are here. That’s what we’re all about – promoting the student-athlete and preparing student-athletes for a lifetime of success, on and off the field.”

Brand pointed out that the NCAA centennial celebration will kick off in Indianapolis in January 2006 during the association’s annual convention.

“The focus of our centennial celebration will be to commemorate 100 years of intercollegiate athletics, focusing on 100 years of the student-athlete, in a manner that honors the past, highlights the advocacy and reform initiatives of the present, and provides a look into the future,” Brand said.

NCAA and community leaders and members participated in the celebration outside the national office in Indianapolis. The NCAA celebrated the fifth anniversary of moving its national office from Overland Park, Kansas, to Indianapolis in July.