Olympic Growth – The size and fabric of SE Queens Junior Olympics is expanding

There were positive happenings everywhere in Southeast Queens Saturday afternoon. Sure, the third bi-annual Southeast Queens Junior Olympics returned, with participants competing in baseball, basketball, martial arts, soccer, swimming and tennis. But the fact that this, the 2006 edition, was expanding had much more of an impact than any solid forehand, homerun, or silky-smooth jumpshot. For the first time, teams from Brooklyn and northwest Queens joined the games - a surefire sign the event was expanding in popularity.
Furthermore, after opening ceremonies August 5, the athletes took part in a pair of seminars, one on gang prevention and another centering on fiscal responsibility. Organizers also announced during the day that a scholarship committee would award scholarships to three children in three separate stages of academia during closing ceremonies.
&#8220I'm happy we're including the educational component because that's important,” said Assemblyman William Scarborough, an honorary vice chairman and fiscal sponsor. &#8220This was always in the plans. At a certain point, it had to be more about just sports and athletics.”
The parade emanated from Cambria Park, went down Merrick Boulevard and then Liberty Avenue, leading into the York College Track and Field Complex. It was led by a police escort, the U.S. Navy Armed Squad Cadets, the rhythmic sounds of the First Panamanian Drum and Bugle Corps of New York, and the games' Olympic torch, held by track & field competitors Samiyah Steward, 10, Austin Ferguson, 8, and Roberta Vestres, a volunteer and assistant coach with the Metro Eagles, a local track club. Eva Nwajel and Nabila Madubuko sang the national anthem.
Due to a death in the family, Allan Pope, the founder and president of the fledgling Olympics, wasn't on hand, but Vice President and tennis director Bill Briggs took over as the MC of the event. Representing Congressman Gregory Meeks, Anthony Hill offered a proclamation to the Southeast Queens Junior Olympics staff, Dr. Linda Bali, the vice president of academic affairs at York College, spoke, thanking everyone who made the event possible, as did Patty Simmons, the branch manger of Carver Bank. Basketball director JoAnne Arbitello thanked all the sponsors, specifically Coca Cola Enterprises, Scarborough and Borough President Helen Marshall.
But perhaps the highlights of the festivities were the seminars. For sixth graders on down, they sat in on a lecture regarding gang and youth violence prevention by the 109th Precinct's youth officer, Andrew Parks. The workshop gave Cassie Cayo, 10, a chance to ask about how students should deal with bullies. &#8220They teach you what to do when a bully comes near you,” she said.
Mayo's mother, Nell, said that she was lucky the biggest problems her children had was bullies while other parents dealt with issues like gangs, drugs, and sex. &#8220[The lecture] was great,” she said. &#8220The kids got to find out a way to deal with all different problems.”
Afterwards, an expected 4,000 athletes dispersed throughout the area, to Roy Wilkins Park for track & field and tennis, Campus Magnet High School for soccer, York College for basketball and Cabell Field for baseball.
&#8220We're on the right track,” Briggs said. &#8220You know now who is with you, who you can count on to make it go. Now it's not just a new thing, but a positive, permanent thing.”