POSTED: Monday May 4th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO 2016 KICKS OFF OLYMPIC WEEK WITH OPENING CEREMONY AT MAYO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

More than 230,000 students throughout the Chicagoland area participate in week-long programming promoting Olympic values

CHICAGO (May 4, 2009)—Chicago 2016 kicked off Olympic Week in America today with an Opening Ceremony celebration at Mayo Elementary School on Chicago’s South Side. A week-long celebration of the Olympic Movement, Olympic Week in America is a school-based program of classroom lessons focused on Olympic ideals and values. In an effort to continually educate students about the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Olympic Movement, Chicago 2016 recruited 346 schools—reaching 230,000 students and 15,000 teachers—to participate in the program this year. This is up from 50 schools in 2008.

“Even as a Candidate City, Chicago 2016 is dedicated to furthering the Olympic Movement and promoting its ideals and values among the youth of Chicago,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “We believe the increased participation in this year’s program is a reflection of the excitement and interest in the Games among people in Chicago.”

Today’s Opening Ceremony at Mayo Elementary School was attended by Olympian Dwight Stones and Paralympian April Holmes. Students participated in a parade of nations, carrying flags representing more than 200 countries, and the school’s choir and drill team performed. Stones, a three-time Olympian in track and field and Holmes, a two-time Paralympian in track and field, were on hand to teach the students about the significance of the Opening Ceremony, as well as share some of their personal experiences.

Each of the 346 schools participating in Olympic Week in America will celebrate with daily activities, ranging from school assemblies and visits from Olympic and Paralympic athletes to classroom lessons and field day activities. More than 40 Olympians and Paralympians will visit schools across Chicagoland this week.

Tuesday is arts and culture day, and Chicago 2016 will attend a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Lozano Bilingual and International Center with Olympian Henry Cejudo at 9:30 AM.  Following the assembly, Cejudo will participate in an art project with students.

The celebration continues on Wednesday with Chicago 2016 Star Day.  Forty student leaders from Chicago Public Schools will gather for a teen summit on Olympism, led by Olympian Nathaniel Mills. Students will take part in a live video conference with youth in London, the site of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to discuss the Olympic values. The video conference will take place at Microsoft’s virtual computer center at 200 E. Randolph, Floor 2.

Also on Wednesday, 30 Chicago Public School high school students will present plans for creating new businesses to support the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, should the city be chosen as Host City.  Students will present their plans to Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey and leaders from Deloitte.

In honor of Paralympic Sport Day on Thursday, May 7, World Sport Chicago, U.S. Paralympics and Hartford Insurance have teamed up to donate 100 wheelchairs during a rally in Daley Plaza. U.S. Paralympians Josh George, Greta Neimanas and Paul Schulte will be among the elite athletes demonstrating sports.

The week of programming will conclude with a Sports and Field Day on Friday, May 8. Various athletic activities will take place at the schools throughout the Chicago area.

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Keywords · Chicago 2016 · Olympic Bid · Mayo Elementary School

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

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