Kid Olympics: Twice The Turnout In Second Year
SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Kid Olympics started as a bit of a one-off idea: It was inspired by the excitement surrounding the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But the Syracuse-area event didn’t need any Olympic-year hype to grow in its second year, and attendance at the 2017 episode nearly doubled from last year’s turn-out as between 50 and 60 young athletes showed up to the heptathlon put on by the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department at the Harold Schrock Athletic Complex Saturday.
“We started it last year mainly because of the Rio Olympics. There was a lot of buzz going on with that, and this year we just about doubled our participation without an Olympics going on,” explained Syracuse Parks and Rec Program Director Tyler McLead.
Saturday’s event saw children in kindergarten through fifth grade compete against other boys and girls in three age groups — K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. Participants competed in a gauntlet of seven different events, including baseball and softball tosses, a 40-yard dash, a distance run, hurdles race, broad jump, soccer kick and obstacle course.
The seven-event format was carried over from last year’s inaugural event.
“We wanted them to run, jump and throw. Those are pretty much the three things that we thought of that would give them a good variety, test their different abilities through a variety of different events and skills,” explained McLead.
Winners in each division received medals, while second- and third-place finishers were given ribbons, and the top three were all recognized atop a podium like real Olympic athletes. All children were given a gift at the end as well.
“For a small town we’re blessed to have as many resources as we have and just the size of our department. We’re able to do these things,” said McLead. “My job is specifically to develop different programs and events. Maybe other towns of a similar size, they might not have the resources or the staff to do as much, but in Syracuse we’re thankful that we do.”