Want to try curling, skiing, snowboarding or biathlon target shooting during the summer? How about more traditional seasonal sports like track and field events, volleyball or badminton and lacrosse? How about meeting some of our areas Olympians and Paralympians? Then you’ll want to attend the 4th annual Olympic Day Family Festival this Saturday, June 28 at Mackay Stadium on the University of Nevada campus. The event is FREE and takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This fun day of sporting activity celebrates the anniversary of the birth of the modern day Olympic Games in 1894. Whether you are young or young at heart you can try over a dozen sports, many of which are part of the summer or winter Olympic Games.
“Seeing the look on kids’ faces when they try something and do well with it is what it is all about,” said Paul Heglar, Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition (RTWGC) Community Development Director. “Getting a chance to meet Olympians and Paralympians is also important, so they can learn about the power of Olympic values.”
Dean Willeford, a 1968 U.S. Olympic men’s water polo team member, Jill Savery, a member of the U.S. Olympic women’s synchronized swimming gold medal team at the 1996 Atlanta Games and 2000 U.S. Olympic women’s rowing team member in Sydney will all be on hand to meet attendees and share their experiences.
Olympic Day is celebrated by communities and countries around the world every year. The Olympic values of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship are highlighted with events and activities to mark 120 years of Olympic Games history.
“The University of Nevada has been wonderful in providing a great venue in Mackay Stadium that gives kids the room to try some sports they may never have tried before,” said Jon Killoran, RTWGC Executive Director. “It’s a fun day and we’re thrilled to have some of our area’s Olympians and Paralympians join us to make the event truly special.”
