BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
IF YOU GO
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What: Annual YMCA World Games. When: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Where: GE Park, 12110 Princeton Pike - Ohio 747 in Springdale. Directions: From downtown, take Interstate 75 north and I-275 west. Exit at Ohio 747 north, and the park is about a quarter-mile farther on the right. Admission: Free.
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SPRINGDALE -- Diverse cultures within Greater Cincinnati and around the world will converge at a sports festival next week.
The annual YMCA World Games take place 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Wednesday at GE Park on Ohio 747 - Princeton Pike.
Kari Geiser, senior program director of the Blue Ash YMCA branch, said about 3,000 children ages 5-12 from 21 YMCA branches in Hamilton County, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana will participate. "Blending all these groups together, there are differences in how you carry yourself as an individual," Ms. Geiser said. "Blending them all together, we'll be working on independence, self-esteem and working together as a group."
The event started in 1992 in Norwood. It took place from 1993-96 at Cinergy Field before moving to GE Park last year.
Each branch has chosen a country and studied its culture. The branches will represent their chosen countries at the festival. Wednesday, the children and volunteer counselors will march to an opening ceremony, play a total of 19 games and receive ribbons at the end of the day.
Ms. Geiser said the games encourage children of differing athletic abilities to cooperate. "That's a good, caring trait," she said.
