Kids take part in Wii Olympics

The Olympics in Beijing are over, but that didn’t stop some Queens youngsters from taking part in a different kind of Olympics.
On Thursday, August 28, kids between the ages of seven and 18 took part in a Wii Olympics event that had them playing tennis, doing the high jump, swimming and hurdling all through the interactive video games.
While hip-hop and R&B blasted from loudspeakers, complementing the dynamic atmosphere on the lower level of Macy’s wing in Elmhurst’s Queens Center Mall, the Wii Olympic participants played at six stations, each equipped with a 50-inch TV screen.
Unlike regular video games where kids only push buttons, Wii games require players to actually move their bodies.
“Wii sports is one of the hottest gaming systems around these days,” said Dawn Simon, senior manager for marketing at the Queens Center Mall. She explained that the two-hour tournament allowed children and teens who do not have Wii at home to experience it.
“It’s a good opportunity to get kids active before school,” Simon added.
One of the Olympic participants was 14-year-old Terri Little, from Far Rockaway, who happened to be in the mall with her mother at the time of the tournament. “It was fun and energetic. I like moving, jumping up and down,” Little said after plowing through imaginary waters at a swimming game station.
Another participant was 10-year-old Garnet Garcia, of Corona.
“Even though I lost, I had a lot of fun,” she said after a game of tennis, hurrying to get in line for some swimming.
However, there were no losers in these Olympics because the idea is to enjoy the games and increase your heart rate, Simon explained.
“If you participate in the event, you are a winner,” Simon said.
Queens Center Mall is located on 90-15 Queens Boulevard.