POSTED: Tuesday December 30th 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago Bring Olympic and Paralympic Athletes to Successful Holiday Sports Fest

International athletes compete in Killerspin table tennis charity event and attend announcement of the new Chicago Paralympic Development Program

CHICAGO (December 30, 2008)—This weekend, Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago (WSC) participated in Mayor Daley’s Holiday Sports Fest at McCormick Place. The three-day event offered area youth the opportunity to learn about and take part in a cross-section of Olympic and Paralympic sports.

 

Chicago 2016 and WSC hosted an interactive area where kids participated in badminton and wrestling tournaments, viewed demonstrations by elite athletes, Olympians and Paralympians, and took part in other activities. Local sports clubs and organizations ran interactive activities where kids could obtain information on where they can get involved in each sport in the Chicagoland area.

 

“This year’s Mayor’s Holiday Sports Fest was a testament to Chicago’s efforts to bring innovative programming to youth. We thank Mayor Daley for this opportunity and congratulate everyone on a successful event,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016.

 

SportFit, an initiative of 2010 Legacies Now supported by the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia, ran kids through a series of activity stations designed to connect them with the sports that best fit their physical strengths and personal interests. Based on the results, participants received a personalized certificate which identified the top three sports they are best suited for.

 

Killerspin, a Chicago-based firm that produces premium-quality table tennis equipment, sports apparel and media, hosted the world’s premier table tennis charity event, SPINvitational, at the Mayor’s Holiday Sports Fest. Some of world’s top table tennis athletes, including Olympic Gold Medalist Chen Qi of China, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Zhang Yining of China, Olympic Bronze Medalist Michael Maze of Denmark, along with Olympians Sharath Kamal of India, Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, Lucjan Blaszcyk of Poland, Ilija Lupulesku of the United States, Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece, Georgina Pota of Hungary and Chen Weiking of Austria competed in the event.

 

Chicago 2016, WSC and U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), also announced the launch of the Chicago Paralympic Development Program at this weekend’s event. The program is the first of its kind in the country, and it aims to provide the visually and physically impaired with the expertise and resources needed to get involved in Paralympic sports. It will officially begin operation in February 2009. As part of the program, the USOC will provide national team coaches to lead ongoing “train the trainers” clinics for local area coaches interested in Paralympic sport. They will also run clinics that will introduce children to Paralympic sports, and provide them with the best coaching and equipment.

 

 

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About Chicago 2016

Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

 

About World Sport Chicago
World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth. Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete Advisory Counsel (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events. WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy as a real agent of social change for the city. William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board and Scott Myers serves as the executive director.

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Keywords · Chicago 2016 · olympic bid · World Sport Chicago

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Name: Mica Matsoff
Organization: Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
Email:
Phone: 1.312.861.4826
URL: http://www.chicago2016.org/

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