Olympic Games expect numbers to rise

The third bi-annual Southeast Queens Junior Olympics took a sudden upturn at the latest planners committee meeting. After hearing from several commissioners and volunteers, the games' president and founder, Allan Pope, came to the surprising realization they should easily surpass the 2,000 participants of 2004's event.
&#8220I wasn't aware of that until today,” he said. &#8220We're expecting a lot of kids. We may be just about double from 2004.”
Track & Field alone is expecting more than 1,000 and possibly as much as 2,000, the sport's director, James Richardson, a U.S. Track official, said. He said three Queens track clubs - Metro Eagles, Novas and Metropolis - along with many other individuals have all confirmed their attendance to the one-week Junior Olympics, which will begin with a parade on Saturday, August 5th from St. Albans Park to York College and culminate with closing ceremonies the ensuing Saturday.
Pope noted basketball will bring in over 700 athletes, with tennis adding 500, and soccer and baseball combining for nearly another 500. The other sports - double-dutch, stepping, swimming and martial arts - have yet to offer a concrete number, although the latter two were very popular in 2004.
Basketball and baseball, which seem to be the most organized, have completed their schedules, with teams set for each age group. Al Taylor, the president of the Cambria Heights Little League and the baseball director, said he is expecting 300 kids from seven different Little Leagues which he will break into three divisions between the ages of 9-15.
Taylor said two years ago - when he had just 200 baseball participants - he was having a tough time finding teams. But this summer, that is no longer the case. &#8220I just had to sit by my computer and telephone,” he said. &#8220The next Olympics, I'll have to find more park space.”
Pope also announced that they would be giving away three $1,000 scholarships to a student going into college, high school and middle school. &#8220We are trying to bring athletics and academics together,” Pope said. &#8220That's why we started the Olympics in the first place.”
For more information on the third bi-annual Southeast Queens Junior Olympics, call Pope at (718) 978-2884.