| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico 
Launch of Latin America Game On! Youth Sports Initiative Postponed
 Greg Bach - National Alliance for Youth Sports
April 23, 2010
| | For more information visit the IAYS website at www.iays.org, call 1-800-688-KIDS or email international(at)iays.org. | |
The International Alliance for Youth Sports (IAYS) has postponed the May 7 launch of its Game On! Youth Sports Latin America initiative in Monterrey due to the recent kidnappings and unsafe conditions now present there.
The IAYS, one of the world’s leading advocates for children’s sports, was set to kick off the Game On! Youth Sports initiative with a special ceremony at the Holiday Inn Fundidora Hotel in Monterrey, site of where masked gunmen stormed into the hotel Wednesday evening and kidnapped at least half a dozen people.
“It is most unfortunate that this important event had to be cancelled,” said Fred Engh, President and CEO of IAYS. “The irony is that our Game On! initiative is focused on helping communities throughout Mexico and Latin America introduce sports programming as an alternative to drug abuse, crime and violence.”
Game On! programs have impacted the lives of more than 350,000 youth in developing countries around the world and have been held throughout Africa, India and the Caribbean. The IAYS also features regional offices in Zambia, Trinidad and India.
One of the many unique aspects of Game On! is that besides teaching sports skills, encouraging participation and promoting positive competition in a fun atmosphere, it also integrates a variety of life skills into the sessions. Children learn the importance of staying in school, how to make sound decisions, resist peer pressure and resolve conflicts.
Game On! also encourages participation from parents, teachers, teens and volunteers wishing to coach teams and organize games. By providing volunteer training, IAYS teaches parents and volunteers interpersonal communication skills which improve their relationships with children in their community. Training also enables teens to co-captain many younger teams and serve as positive role models.
The Game On! Youth Sports philosophy rests on the notion that once children have developed basic sports skills they are equipped with the confidence and motivation necessary to participate in the many physical and social activities that life offers.
The program has special appeal to those populations of underserved, impoverished teens who are at risk of dropping out of school and taking part in risky and unhealthy behaviors. Many of the negative issues facing Latin American youth – such as drug abuse, violence, HIV/AIDS, boredom and dysfunctional families – are similar to those of many Game On! host countries.
For more information visit the IAYS website at www.iays.org, call 1-800-688-KIDS or email international(at)iays.org.
Learn how the NAYS 4-Step Process can improve the coaching in your community!
|
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us