POSTED: Saturday May 9th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO 2016 CELEBRATES OLYMPIC WEEK WITH 230,000 STUDENTS

Olympic and Paralympic athletes help educate students about Olympic values and ideals during week-long celebration

CHICAGO (May 8, 2009)—In celebration of Olympic Week in America, Chicago 2016 concluded a successful week of fun, festivities and educational programming. Throughout the week, more than 230,000 students and 15,000 teachers from 346 schools participated in sport activities, learned about the values and ideals of the Olympic Movement and staged Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Daily activities were theme-driven—from Opening Ceremony celebrations and Arts and Culture Day, to Paralympic Sports Day and Field Day. Nearly 50 Olympic and Paralympic athletes visited with students to share their experience with students.

“It has been a truly rewarding experience for all of us to see the enthusiasm and interest in the Games from kids across the city,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016.  “We hope this week inspires them to become more involved in sport and increases their awareness of the power of the Games to unite the world in friendship.”

The first day of Olympic Week in America was celebrated with Opening Ceremony celebrations. At Mayo Elementary School on Chicago’s South Side, Olympian Dwight Stones and Paralympian April Holmes talked to students about the significance of the Opening Ceremony and related their own experiences from the Games. The students participated in a traditional parade of nations, carrying the flags of more than 200 countries.

On Tuesday—Arts and Culture Day—students at Lozano Bilingual and International Center celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Olympic Henry Cejudo (gold medal, wrestling, 2008). Students performed traditional Mexican dances and Cejudo related his Olympic story and took part in an art project.

The celebration continued on Wednesday with Chicago 2016 Star Day.  Forty student leaders from Chicago Public Schools met for a teen summit on Olympism and participated in a video conference with students in Boston and London, the site of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The students were joined by Olympian Nathaniel Mills and Paralympian Jason Wening. 

Also included in Wednesday’s programming was a chance for 30 Chicago Public School high school students to present business plans that support the 2016 Olympic and Paralypmic Games.  Students presented their plans to Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey and leaders from Deloitte.

In honor of Paralympic Sport Day on Thursday, May 7, the Hartford donated 100 sport wheelchairs to community-based sports rehabilitation programs in Chicago.  As part of an event in Daley Plaza, members of the community attended and were treated to demonstrations of Paralympic sports, including wheelchair basketball, cycling, judo, sit volleyball, tennis and boccia. U.S. Paralympians Greta Neimanas and Paul Schulte were among the elite athletes attending the event.

Olympic Week in America concluded on Friday with Field Day activities. Olympic track and field athlete Connie Moore and Olympic boxer Danell Nicholson visited schools and participated in athletic activities.

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Keywords · Chicago 2016 · Olympic Bid · Olympic Week

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

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