Olympic games set for takeoff

The third bi-annual Southeast Queens Junior Olympics is ready to go, with over 4,000 athletes expected for the opening ceremonies and community parade, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Saturday August 12.
The parade, beginning from St. Albans Park, on Merrick and Linden Boulevards, and finishing at the York Physical Education Building Track & Field site, will march to the music of the Panamanian Marching Band.
The torch lighting ceremony of the opening ceremonies will take place with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and several other local public officials, such as Assemblymember and vice president of the games William Scarborough, Senator Ada Smith, and Councilmember Leroy Comrie.
Following the torch lighting, there will be a series of three 20-minute workshops featuring a Financial Literacy Workshop for elementary school students, a Negative Aspects of Gangs Workshop for junior high school students, and a College Readiness Workshop for high school students.
Closing ceremonies will be held the following Saturday, August 19 at the same location at York College, with Step Dancing and Double Dutch Jump Rope exhibitions. Medals will be given to all who participate. In addition, three scholarships will be awarded, one each to a middle school student, a high school student and a student bound for college. The scholarships are being provided by Assemblyman William Scarborough, Allan G. Pope, the games' founder and president, and the Southeast Queens Junior Olympics Organization.
The Junior Olympics is open to all youths ages six-to-18, and registration is ongoing. Competitions this year include baseball, track and field, basketball, martial arts, soccer, baseball and tennis, with exhibitions in double-dutch and stepping. The competitions will be held at Roy Wilkins Park, Campus Magnet High School, Cabell Field and Laurelton West Field. &#8220Everything is set,” Pope said. &#8220We're ready to go.”
For additional information, call the Southeast Queens Junior Olympics office at 718-978-2884.
– Zachary Braziller