***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Chicago 2016 Celebrates Olympic Week in America
Week-long programming showcases Olympic values to more than 230,000 students throughout Chicagoland
Who: Chicago 2016
What: From May 4-8, Chicago 2016 will celebrate Olympic Week in America, a school-based program of classroom lessons focused on Olympic ideals and values. Chicago 2016 is committed to continuing to educate students about the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Olympic Movement.
In support of this effort, Chicago 2016 recruited 346 schools—reaching 230,000 students—to participate in a series of events developed specifically for Chicagoland schools. In addition to recruiting schools and preparing teachers with an Olympic and Paralympic curriculum, Chicago 2016 created themed events for each day of the week and will bring more than 40 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to local schools to share their Olympic stories.
Media are invited to attend the following events in honor of Chicago 2016’s celebration of Olympic Week in America:
Monday, May 4: Opening Ceremony
What: Opening Ceremonies at Mayo School
Chicago 2016 and Olympian Dwight Stone and Paralympian April Holmes will visit Mayo Elementary School to kick off the week’s events with an Opening Ceremony celebration. During the celebration, students in kindergarten through 8th grade will participate in a parade of nations and the school’s choir and drill teams will perform. Stone and Holmes will teach the students about the Opening Ceremony and the Olympic Movement, as well as share some of their personal experiences.
Where: Mayo Elementary School – 249 East 37th Street
When: 1:00-2:30 PM
Tuesday, May 5: Arts and Culture Day
What: Chicago 2016 and Olympian Henry Cejudo Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Olympic gold medalist in wrestling Henry Cejudo will visit Lozano Bilingual and International Center to share his Olympic story with the students and participate in an Olympic artwork project.
Where: Lozano Bilingual and International Center – 1424 N. Cleaver
When: 9:30-10:15 AM – School Assembly with Olympian Henry Cejudo
10:15-10:45 AM – Olympian Henry Cejudo visits with a classroom to do an art project
Wednesday, May 6: Chicago 2016 Star Day
What: Olympism Teen Summit for High School Students
Forty Chicago Public School student leaders will gather for a teen summit on Olympism, the Olympic Movement, and the key Chicago 2016 Values of Respect, Hope, Friendship, Excellence, Harmony and Celebration. During the summit, students will share their thoughts about these topics over a live digital connection with youth in London, the site of the 2012 Olympic Games, and youth in Boston. Students will discuss how they can use Olympism to achieve excellence in their personal lives and to enact positive social change in their respective communities and in the world.
Where: Microsoft – 200 East Randolph, Floor 2
When: 9:30-11:00 AM
What: Olympic Finance Project
Thirty Chicago Public School high school students will present plans for creating new businesses to support the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, should the city be chosen as Host City. The students will present their business plans to Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey and leaders from Deloitte.
Where: Deloitte – 111 South Wacker
When: 4:00-6:00 PM
Thursday, May 7: Paralympic Sports Day
What: World Sport Chicago Paralympic Development Initiative: 100 Wheelchairs Donated to Chicago Rehabilitation Programs
World Sport Chicago's Paralympic Development Initiative created an alliance of organizations including Chicago 2016, U.S. Paralympics and Hartford Insurance to donate one hundred sport wheelchairs to 17 community-based sports rehabilitation programs in Chicago. In celebration of Paralympic Sports Day during Olympic Week in America, the Hartford’s Paralympic Chairs for Champions in Daley Plaza will include demonstrations of the Paralympic sports of judo, tennis, cycling, wheelchair basketball and boccia. U.S. Paralympians Josh George, Greta Neimanas and Paul Schulte will be among the elite athletes demonstrating sports.
Where: Daley Plaza
When: 11:30 AM-1:30PM
Friday, May 8: Sports and Field Day
More information about the culminating event for Olympic Week in America will be available early next week.
Contact:
Chicago 2016 Media Line
+1.312.861.4826 (media line)
media@chicago2016.org