Aurora sports festival kicks off
For two days this weekend, video games in Aurora will go unplayed as hundreds of students get outside to participate in athletic and skill competitions aimed at instilling teamwork and sportsmanship.
The 15th annual Aurora Sports Festival is set for Friday and Saturday in and around Phillips Park on the city's east side.
Coordinator and former athletic director Al Miller said he helped design the original festival in the mold of the Prairie State Games to promote May as National Health and Physical Fitness month.
Miller said that as of Monday 1,137 students - the most ever - were registered to compete in events including bowling, in-line skating, checkers, sand volleyball, chess, soccer, softball, swimming, golf, tennis, horseshoes, basketball, table tennis, track, tug-o-war, written essays and fitness tests.
To compete, athletes must meet their schools' eligibility standards and maintain an A or B in physical education.
"We hope our turnout this year reflects that we have more students achieving in both academics and physical education," Miller said. "That's a great sign."
The two-day event is a program of the Mayor's Youth and Sports Activities Division, in cooperation with Aurora's physical education teachers.
Miller said the festival also draws plenty of spectators.
"The calling card is seeing kids in a relaxed atmosphere playing games and it's just a lot of camaraderie and sportsmanship between teammates and even schools," Miller said.
Mayor Tom Weisner is also a fan of the festival.
"By learning to value fitness as middle school students, these young athletes can reap great benefits throughout their lives," Weisner said. "The annual sports festival is one of my favorite events of the year because I get to see some of our most energetic residents in action."
The competing schools include Annunciation, Aurora Christian, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Archbishop Romero, Holy Angels, St. Joseph and St. Rita of Cascia. District 129 schools are Herget, Jefferson, Jewel and Washington. District 131 schools competing are Cowherd, Simmons and Waldo. Students from District 308's Bednarcik Junior High School also will compete.
The public is encouraged to attend the festival, which begins with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday in the winter recreation area near the Phillips Park Aquatic Center. The events will be ongoing throughout the day at Phillips Park, East Aurora High School, Aurora Skate Center and Parkside Lanes. Events will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday at East Aurora High School. The closing ceremony will be at noon at the school.
If you go
What: Aurora Sports Festival, a two-day competition for Aurora seventh- and eighth-graders
When: Opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Friday; competitions continue throughout the day Friday and Saturday
Where: Friday events are at Phillips Park, East Aurora High School, Aurora Skate Center and Parkside Lanes; Saturday events are at East Aurora High School
Cost: Free to watch