Fort Belvoir, Va. (Oct. 9, 2014) - More than 100 pre-kindergarten athletes, representing Fort Belvoir's four Child Development Centers, competed in the 2014 Pre-K Olympic Games, Friday at Pullen Field.
The event, hosted by Child, Youth and School Services, and coordinated by Julie Libert, CYSS youth sports and fitness assistant director, and Aricka Vaughn, CYSS sports and fitness specialist, provided the youngest members of the Belvoir community the opportunity to compete in a variety of track and field events, including shot put, javelin throw, long jump and distance runs.
According to Jerry Arrington, CYSS sports and fitness director, the Pre-K Olympics represents the garrison's continued effort to promote fitness and healthy lifestyles to children early on.
"This is the other part of our (athletic) program here -- the fitness side where we're trying to get these kids started with fitness at 3 to 5-years-old," he said. "About every six months we try to do some type of Olympics-style event for that age group. We're trying to plant that seed so, as they grow older, they'll stay into physical fitness."
Arrington added that the Olympic Games competition is one of several CYSS events designed each year to increase awareness of the benefits of physical fitness and its importance in combating pervasive health conditions such as childhood obesity.
"The (NFL) Play 60 event we did with the Washington Redskins last week is another example of this side of the program," he said. "That's a four-week program during which the athletes track their activities. Julie (Libert) does a tremendous job with this program. She works with these kids in the centers all year, with activities like a fitness boot camp, the Start Smart program and a lot of other things."
An important aspect of Friday's Pre-K Olympics was the opportunity the event provided the athletes to represent their own CDCs, which included the North Post CDC, the South Post CDC, the Markham School Age Center and the JoAnn Blanks CDC. Each school created banners for the opening parade and each group wore special handmade jerseys to represent their centers with pride.
The athletes, coaches, teachers and volunteers began the event with a parade led by torch bearer Liam Collins, 4, representing the Markham School Age Center, and flag bearer, Alyssa Baringer, 4, representing the South Post CDC. Joshua Jones, 4, of the JoAnn Blanks CDC, and D'Anna Kofie, 4, representing the North Post CDC, carried the Olympic banner. The participants marched around Pullen Track from the staging area to the main grand stands to prepare for the opening events -- the turbo javelin and shot put.
Throughout the morning, athletes took to the track and field with determination and a commitment to excellence, giving it their best efforts across the spectrum of athletic competitions. Parents and Family members filled the stands and lined the track, cheering for their young Olympians. Service members representing the Army, Navy and Air Force manned the competition stations and helped the athletes out with tips and advice. CYSS volunteers also provided rest areas, water and healthy snacks during the morning.
According to Libert, the key to the events' success each year is the many hours of work the volunteers contribute to the planning and coordinating of such large gatherings of preschoolers.
"Fort Belvoir Community Hospital really deserves recognition for helping us out with these events," she said. "Thirty volunteers came out to help us work with the kids. Also, the (Fort Belvoir) Thrift Store, because the grant they gave us buys the oranges, the bananas, the cups and the ribbons. Plus, those grants help promote health and fitness for the kids."
For more information regarding special CYSS youth athletic programs and events, contact Libert at (703) 805-9138 or Arrington at (703) 805-9139.
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