Junior Olympics
The Junior Olympics were established in 1888. It has become the largest non-profit sports organization in the country. It is dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. The goal of the organization is to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. The organization works closely with the Olympics to prepare athletes for the Olympic games. The organization focuses on improving sports programs for participants of all ages.
Junior Olympic Games is known as the largest multi-sport event for youth in the United States. Just like the Olympics, the Junior Games are held at a different location each year, although some of the locations have had the honor of hosting the event more than once. This is because the Junior Olympic Games take place every year rather than every four years as the Olympics do. The games have been conducted in nineteen states and thirty cities across the United States. ‘There’s nothing junior about it’ has become the theme of the Junior Olympic Games. There are currently more than sixteen thousand participants. All fifty states are represented.
Qualifying to participant in the Junior Olympic games depends on the event you wish to participate in. Some events have age requirements, so have weight requirements, and others have no requirements at all. To get information on qualifications for events you can search the internet or get information from most school counselors. Once you find out if you qualify for an event, you will need to submit an application packet. It is required that each athlete has a coach at the event.
The Junior Olympics, along with sponsors, promotes various events throughout the United States to get athletes involved in the organization. In February of 2006, they announced the Junior Olympic Skills Competition presented by Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. The program took place in communities across the U.S. with a culminating event at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado in August. The competition is designed to teach youth about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by promoting fitness, physical activity and sports participation.
The Junior Olympics program offers athletes across the United States the opportunity to enjoy physical activity, and possibly prepare for the actual Olympic Games when they are older. It also promotes their self confidence, encourages participation in sports, and offers the support of the organization to all participants.
