Marcus JCC to Hold Olympic Day

On Friday, June 29, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) is joining more than 700 nationwide events in celebrating the birth of the modern Olympic Games. 

The MJCCA Day Camps Olympic Day will feature special guests United States Olympians Doug Brown (1976 & 1980 Steeplechase) and Marty McCormick (1992 Kayak), and will include a range of activities and sports.  

The day will begin with the carrying of an Olympic Torch, Flag Relay, and an Opening Ceremony. Campers will participate in activities with the Olympic athletes and have time for Q&A. They will also get a chance to compete, participate, and show their spirit as members of the ‘National Teams’ representing Great Britain, USA, Israel, and Canada. 

The afternoon will include a field day with track & field events, soccer matches, and a gymnastics event. The day will culminate with closing remarks from Doug Brown.

Ryan Pollard, Event Coordinator and MJCCA Sports Camp Director says, “This will be our second year welcoming Olympic Athletes and celebrating World Olympic Day.  It’s a great opportunity, especially in an Olympic year, to highlight the good that sports and the Olympics can achieve for everyone.” 

Pollard continues, “We spend a lot of time in our camps talking about respect, sportsmanship, community, and honesty. The Olympics is a wonderful representation of those values and really gives the kids something tangible to embody as they participate in sports and games.” 

The MJCCA is among the more than 700 host organizations/events taking place on World Olympic Day nationwide between June 22 and July 1. The events, designed to engage youth and promote the ideals of the Olympic movement, feature athlete appearances, family-friendly activities and interactive learning experiences. This year, the U.S. will almost double its 2011 Olympic Day event total.

Around the world, more than 160 countries take part in the annual celebration. Olympic Day, created in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games, focuses on the Olympic values and ideals such as fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship. In the U.S., Olympic Day events range from small gatherings to large, city-wide events.