1,200 Athletes to Compete in International Children's Games
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The spirit of athletic competition that will sweep the world in August is coming to San Francisco in July. On Friday, July 11, the 42nd International Children's Games kicks off with the Opening Ceremony at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. The International Children's Games, this year held in San Francisco, brings together more than 1,200 youth athletes (between the ages of 12-15 years old) from 84 cities in 42 countries, and representing all six inhabitable continents. The goal of the games, which are endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, is to promote peace and friendship through sports.
"We are honored to host such a talented and diverse group of athletes," said G. Bradford Solso, chairman of the organizing committee for the International Children's Games in San Francisco. "As the world revs up for this summer's Olympics, the International Children's Games will be a great way to spark the athlete inside each one of us."
The Opening Ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11, at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. In addition to the traditional processional of teams and presentation of flags, attendees will be treated to Ballet Folklorio, Flying Lion dancers, Iron Monkey and Renegade B-Boyin, Tacoma King Africa drummers, and the Whelan Irish dancers. The Ceremony will conclude with a finale performance by the Sun Kings. Dignitaries in attendance will include Mayor Gavin Newsom, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and numerous mayors and Consul Generals from the participating cities and countries.
Competitions in each of the eight sports -- basketball, soccer,
volleyball, tennis, track & field, golf, table tennis and swimming -- will
take place throughout the day, beginning Friday, July 11, and continuing on
Saturday, July 12; Sunday, July 13; and concluding on Monday, July 14. The
International Children's Games Festival Village, athletic competitions and
participant events will take place in multiple venues throughout San
Francisco, including Golden Gate Park, Kezar Stadium,
All events are open to the public. Schedules and ticket information can be found on the Web at http://www.sficg2008.com. Mobile phone users may sign up to receive updates about schedules and match results by sending a text message to code 95294 with the keyword "KIDS" in the body of the text message.
There are 90 youth athletes from the Bay Area who make up Team San Francisco at this year's games. Cities from around the globe that are represented at the games include:
Abidjan Graz Macau Ravne na Koroskem
Alkmaar Halifax Manama Reykjavik
Athens Halmstad Maribor Rochester
Bangkok Hamilton Marin San Francisco
Beijing Ho Chi Minh Marion San Jose
Brantford Hong Kong Medias San Mateo
Bratislava Innsbruck Mislinja Sentilj
Brescia Jerusalem Monaco Seoul
Cebu City Joure Montego Bay Shanghai
Celje Kaohsiung Montreux Sialkot
Chesterfield Kaunas Murska Sobota Singapore
Cleveland Kecskemet Nairobi Slovenj Gradec
Contra Costa Kempten New Delhi Sopron
Cork Kitchener New York Sparta
Coventry Kumasi Nuuk Taipei City
Daegu Lahore Oakland Tralee
Darmstadt Lake Macquarie Patras Ulaanbaatar
Eisenstadt Lanarkshire Plock Uzhgorod
Florence Lausanne Podolsk Vadodara
Freiberg Los Gatos Port of Spain Velenje
Gelting Luxemourg Raanana Vevey
The 42nd International Children's Games are supported by Ashwood Management Partners, Adobe Systems, Clear Channel, Comerica Bank, the Koret Foundation, the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund, Grey San Francisco, Heller Ehrman, the Hellman Family Foundation, Manning Selvege & Lee, NBC11, Olympic Club Foundation, Safeway, the San Francisco Bay Club, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture, Waterfront Container and many individuals, corporation and volunteers who have made donations of cash or goods and services.
About the International Children's Games
Endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, the International Children's Games is a premier global, youth athletic event that combines sports and educational programs, cultural exchange opportunities and economic development. The Games serve as a vehicle to promote alliances, friendships and common understanding among children around the world and have done so since 1968. Thirty-one different cities on four continents have hosted previous Games.
SOURCE International Children's Games
International News / Press Release source: PR Newswire
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