LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1063241
20 Winter 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Lake Placid, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games will again be hosting an international event. Januar y 6-11 the village will welcome the International Children's Winter Games with over 500 athletes from 30 cities and 15 countries. Lake Placid will be the first United States city to host the games, and is excited to have all participating athletes and coaches to the region. In June of 1968 the first International Chil- dren's Games were held in Celje Slovenia. Metod Klemenc, who was a physical education teacher in Celje, came up with the idea to bring young male and female athletes, aged 12-15 years, together for a track- and-field competition. In 1994, the first winter games were held in Slovenia as well. After 50 years it has evolved into a global movement, promoting peace and understanding through sport and cultural exchange. Today it's recognized and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The Lake Placid games will consist of the following disci- plines: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-countr y, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding, and speedskating. Athletes gain entr y into the competition by invitation. Towns in the Adirondacks sending athletes to the games are: Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Paul Smiths, Gabriels, Malone, Gansevoort, Bolton Land- ing, and Old Forge. Although the competition itself is obvious- ly important, there are other goals intended with the games. Having a cultural exchange and forming friendships that span the globe is paramount to the games. Another goal is to help create an understating and respect for people from different coun- tries. Realizing a safe and happy future for children is large- ly dependent on understanding and respecting each other. Sports can provide children a platform on which to live and learn these lessons. The International Children's Games aim is to teach this through a non-political, non-denominational, and non-racist way. International Children's Winter Games: Friendship and Sport Move Mountains By Anne Brewer