Exposing Kids to Sports

400 kids were bused to the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates on Saturday February 21, to watch the Tyson American Cup, and the world’s premier gymnasts compete for the prestigious title.  400 free tickets were given out to kids from the Chicago Park District and transportation provided to the event, to make sure everyone would be able to attend.  So many times kids in the city just do not have the means to attend sporting events like these, and it was a great opportunity for them to be able to see Olympic quality gymnasts from all over the world compete.

Witnessing such incredible performances from Olympic athletes like Bridget Sloan and Joseph Hagerty, who both competed for the USA in Beijing, often times are what inspire young kids to start up a sport, especially a sport they might not have considered before.

“I can remember being [young] and coming to an event, a building like this, a brand new facility, walking in and feeling the excitement,” Mary Lou Retton, 1984 Olympic women’s all-around gold medalist, team and vault silver medalist, and floor bronze medalist, remembers.  “These kids will be inspired today, and that is what the future of our nation and the future of athletics and gymnastics is tied around.  They will be inspired, and maybe one of those kids watching will think: ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’”

While gymnastics is often one of the most watched sports during each summer Olympic Games, enthusiasm for the sport often dwindles after the games are over, and the excitement forgotten.  People forget that gymnastics is a sport that anyone can participate in all year round and a great sport for kids to participate in at any level.

“Support tapers off because a lot of families aren’t given the opportunity to take a look at Gymnastics and don’t know how to get involved,” said Kerri Strug, 1996 Olympic Games team gold medal winner.

These kids just need the exposure to the sport of gymnastics and the opportunities to get involved.

The Tyson American Cup is also the perfect competition to expose kids to gymnastics.  It is a competition whose winners often times will go on to win gold medals in the Olympic Games.  And thus produces gymnasts who are known world wide.  Countries from all around the world send their top athletes to compete, many who have won Olympic medals in past Olympics.  

“I am sure [the kids] will have a great time watching them fly through the air and try their new routines,” Strug said.  “It is the biggest event since Beijing for a lot of the gymnasts.  It’s a great competition for [the kids] to check out.”

For more photos from this event please visit our flickr page.