News
Release:
Nov. 10 Special
Olympics Iowa hosts program for children too young to participate in Special
Olympics events
For
Immediate Release
Date: November 2, 2009
Contact: Kathy Irving,
Director of Special Programs, 515-418-2284
Who: 45 Special Olympics Iowa athletes, ages
2-8. Participants will be accompanied by their parent or their preschool or
elementary school teachers and chaperones. 50 volunteers will assist in this
event, running each activity and working as team leaders. The event is
sponsored by Variety - The Children’s Charity.
What: The Young Athletes Play Activity Day is a program designed to
provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children with
intellectual disabilities between the ages of two and eight. This
program was created to serve children too young to participate in other Special
Olympics Iowa competitions (minimum entry age being eight years and up).
When: 9:30-11:30
a.m. Tuesday, November 10
Where: West
Family YMCA in Davenport
Background:
Special
Olympics Iowa is hosting the 8th annual Young Athletes Play Activity
Day on Tuesday, November 10 at the West Family YMCA from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Young Athlete Play Days provide
networking opportunities for parents of children with intellectual disabilities
while the benefits of play for the children who participate include: the
opportunity to have fun and to get along with others while working toward
together toward a goal, encouragement of imagination and gaining self-esteem.
Participants will enjoy activities in: air flow jumper,
ball darts, basketball, batting, bowling, 25 meter dash, musical balance beam,
ribbon routine, soccer kick, standing long jump
and tennis ball throw. In addition to Davenport, Young Athlete Play
Days are also held statewide in: Ames, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Muscatine,
Neola and Waterloo. Plans for 2010 include play days in Cedar Rapids and
Oskaloosa.
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