Have you ever tried pole vaulting or curling? Ever run a race and won a medal?
Reno-Tahoe families will once again have the chance to try many of the sports included in the Olympic Winter and Summer Games and meet Olympians and Paralympians during the Olympic Day Family Festival Saturday, June 23at Mackay Stadium on the University of Nevada campus. The event is FREE to attend.
The Family Festival will be one of the region’s events celebrating the creation of the modern-day Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin during the 1890’s. Thousands of cities and towns around the world commemorate the anniversary.
“Our region enjoys a wonderful and historic Olympic heritage” said Jon Killoran, RTWGC Chief Executive Officer. “But none of it would have happened without the original vision of Pierre de Coubertin. It is in his spirit and in the spirit of the Games that we created the Family Festival.”
1996 U.S. gold medalist synchronized swimmer Jill Savery, 1996 China silver medalist swimmer Limin Liu (also a UNR Hall of Famer), two-time Russian Olympic gymnast Vitaly Scherbo, who won a record six gold medals during the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games and 2010 Paralympic Alpine Skier Ricci Kilgore are among those Olympians and Paralympians who will take part in the event.
Last year’s inaugural Family Festival attracted hundreds of families to the stadium. Kids of all ages tried sports ranging from athletics, to fencing and even curling. In all, 15 different Olympic and Paralympic sports were represented and the list is expected to grow this year.
“We want to give our youth a taste of the great sports which are part of the Olympic program” said Paul Heglar, RTWGC Youth Outreach Coordinator. “Getting involved with sport and learning about Olympic Values can be very rewarding.”
The Family Festival is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as an official World Olympic Day event.
