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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Presenting Sponsor of Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival

December 9, 2008

Fest provides fun physical activities for kids during their winter break

"Mom, Dad, I'm bored!"

Every parent dreads it when their kids get antsy, and it happens a lot during the winter months when they're home on break from school. Well, kids don't have to be bored anymore.

The Mayor's Office of Special Events and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois are presenting Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival from Dec. 27 to 29 at McCormick Place. The festival gives Chicago area kids and their parents access to a host of fun physical activities during the break in a safe and warm environment.

Activities include:

40-Yard Dash Floor Hockey Paralympic Table Tennis
Acrobatics Footbag Pop-a-Shot
Adult Fitness Area Football Shotput
Badminton Golf Challenge Skate Park
Baseball Gymnastics and Tumbling Table Tennis
Boxing Inflatable Slide Tennis
Bungee Run Inflatable Tumbling Tots Zone
Climbing Walls Javelin Trampolines
Dancing Jump Rope Turbo Jav
Discus Kids Golf Challenge Volleyball
Fishing Ponds Martial Arts Demos Wrestling

In addition, the Mayor's Fitness Council will offer:

  • Cardio kickboxing, salsa aerobics, Pilates, yoga, and other sports classes by certified fitness instructors
  • Fitness demos and lectures on nutrition, bike safety, and family fitness
  • Guidance on personalized fitness regimes from personal trainers
  • Health screenings, including body fat composition

"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois shares Mayor Daley's commitment to health and wellness," Paul S. Boulis, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois president, said. "By leading, partnering, and investing in local initiatives like the Mayor's Holiday Sports Festival, Blue Cross can help children and their families adopt healthy lifestyle habits."

"It's important that kids have access to fun and motivating programs and activities that advocate exercise and proper nutrition, especially given the prevalence of health issues like childhood obesity in Illinois", Boulis continued.

Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival 2008

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will host the "Holiday Hoops Basketball Boys & Girls Sophomore Tournament," as well as tennis clinics. The basketball tournament will feature sixteen teams and the tennis zone will offer mini interactive tennis clinics for kids of all ages. In addition, CPS will host an all-ages chess tournament, and instructors will be on site to help beginners.

Radio Disney Participating

Kids and their families also can interact with Radio Disney along with other personalities! Radio Disney engages the kids using popular songs and encourages them to move to the music!

Festival incorporates U.S. Paralympics table tennis championships

In addition to the numerous physical activities, more than 100 disabled table tennis athletes from around the world – including several Paralympians and Paralympic medalists – are expected to compete at the festival. A showcase for diversity and inclusion, the U.S. Paralympics Table Tennis Championships will be a welcome addition to the Killerspin Holiday Open, an annual USA table tennis-sanctioned competition, which also will occur at the festival.

Schedule and Location

Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival is scheduled for Saturday, December 27 through Monday, December 29 at McCormick Place in Halls A & B (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive). Admission is FREE. Discounted parking will be available in Lot A. Activities take place daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tournament hours vary. Tournaments include volleyball, floor hockey, and table tennis. Sanctioned tournaments require pre-registration and there may be a nominal fee.The complete schedule of activities will be available on the city's web site in December.

Additional events include:

  • Special performances and appearances, including hip hop & salsa dancing, a drum line, martial arts demonstrations and other activities daily from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Halftime stage located at the entrance of Hall A
  • The Chicago Sky, a member of the Women's National Basketball Association, also will attend
  • The U.S. Olympic Committee will provide updates on Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.

Call and mention Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival to receive special hotel rates at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place at 2233 S. Martin Luther King Dr. (800-233-1234) or the Hilton Chicago at 720 S. Michigan.

Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival is an all-ages event and presented by the Mayor's Office of Special Events, the Chicago Park District and McCormick Place. For more information, click on the web: www.chicagoholidaysportsfestival.us or call 312-744-3315. Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival is presented by the City of Chicago and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events and sponsored in part by 104.3 Jack FM, Athletico, Bally Total Fitness, Chicago Transit Authority, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Pepsi Stuff, Communications Direct, Hinckley Springs, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, LaGrou Distribution System, Radio Disney and RCN.

With more than 7 million members, BCBSIL (www.bcbsil.com) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, BCBSIL is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSIL is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC). HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.



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