Utica Boilermaker Youth Olympics
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: July 5, 2012
While we haven't hit the Boilermaker just yet, for Utica city youth, today was the next best thing. Bank of America held the 10th Annual Boilermaker Youth Olympics. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky visited the games and she joins us live in the studio, Rachel?
The Youth Olympics is a free event open to all city children. And it wasn't just about competing - It was about getting out of the house, exercising, and making new friendships along the way.
"This is the funnest thing I've done this summer all year," Alexandra Underwood, 11-year-old participant.
And not only is it fun - the Utica Youth Bureau says its a great way to keep kids active and exercising
"It keeps them out of the house, off the couch, off the Wiis, nintendo, you name it and gets them just active in the park," says Sean Brown, Utica Youth Bureau Director.
"When you're inside and it's summer, you gotta be outside because it's much funner and there's a lot of things to do," says Underwood.
And Sean Brown says the Youth Olympics is for every child, regardless of athletic ability. We're playing connect four and Alexandra has been the champ all day but Taylor is getting ready to break her winning streak
"You don't have to be athletic, they can use their brain in regard to connect four, the checkers - the chalk contest with their art skills, you don't have to be athletic to participate, just come on out," says Brown.
The Olympians participated in eleven different events including basketball, soccer, connect four, and even a chalk drawing contest - but they say the best part is playing with their friends
"Just being here with all the kids from different programs and different schools and seeing them and having fun with them and we compete with each other, and we do it every year," says Dervontay Walton, participant.
One volunteer, who used to be a participant, says he's back in the action because he couldn't stay away from the Youth Olympics.
"I participated for 3 years and it was so much fun, I wanted to help the other kids have as much fun as I did when I was younger. Now I'm working here so i give the kids the experience I had when I participated in the Youth Olympics."
The Youth Olympics is a free event open to all city children. And it wasn't just about competing - It was about getting out of the house, exercising, and making new friendships along the way.
"This is the funnest thing I've done this summer all year," Alexandra Underwood, 11-year-old participant.
And not only is it fun - the Utica Youth Bureau says its a great way to keep kids active and exercising
"It keeps them out of the house, off the couch, off the Wiis, nintendo, you name it and gets them just active in the park," says Sean Brown, Utica Youth Bureau Director.
"When you're inside and it's summer, you gotta be outside because it's much funner and there's a lot of things to do," says Underwood.
And Sean Brown says the Youth Olympics is for every child, regardless of athletic ability. We're playing connect four and Alexandra has been the champ all day but Taylor is getting ready to break her winning streak
"You don't have to be athletic, they can use their brain in regard to connect four, the checkers - the chalk contest with their art skills, you don't have to be athletic to participate, just come on out," says Brown.
The Olympians participated in eleven different events including basketball, soccer, connect four, and even a chalk drawing contest - but they say the best part is playing with their friends
"Just being here with all the kids from different programs and different schools and seeing them and having fun with them and we compete with each other, and we do it every year," says Dervontay Walton, participant.
One volunteer, who used to be a participant, says he's back in the action because he couldn't stay away from the Youth Olympics.
"I participated for 3 years and it was so much fun, I wanted to help the other kids have as much fun as I did when I was younger. Now I'm working here so i give the kids the experience I had when I participated in the Youth Olympics."
