Winners of sportsmanship awards show off their medals following the day’s festivities. The event gave children from around Northeast Tennessee an opportunity to compete in a variety of events inside ETSU’s Minidome.
The fourth annual Tennessee Boys & Girls Clubs Olympics was held inside the MiniDome on the campus of ETSU last Wednesday.
The event drew hundreds of kids from across the region and gave them the opportunity to compete in a variety of different activities, which promoted physical activity while bolstering their self-esteem. Members of the ETSU men’s and women’s basketball teams volunteered at the event along with some ETSU cheerleaders and Olympic hopefuls training at ETSU’s Olympic Training Site.
Attendees participated in contests such as the long jump, shuttle run and the 50-yard dash. The ETSU cheerleaders provided a clinic after lunch and also did some face painting for the kids while the ETSU basketball players assisted with some skills events.
One of the unique aspects of the event was the opportunity for so many different clubs to congregate under one roof.
“One of the best parts is that all the clubs from around the region come together, so they’re getting to see kids and different staff that they haven’t seen,” said Robin Crumley, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City and Washington County.
At the conclusion of the event, Boys & Girls Club members were recognized with sportsmanship awards.
“Just having this fellowship with kids from other clubs and learning some sportsmanship, that’s all this is about,” said Scott Bullington, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County.
Robin Crumley, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City and Washington County, addresses the hundreds of kids in attendance for the second-annual Tennessee Boys & Girls Club Olympics last Wednesday. PHOTOS BY DAVE ONGIE
Aside from the physical activity, Crumley said last Wednesday’s event also gave participants the chance to meet new people.
