In honor of Black History Month, Chicago 2016 brought Olympian Michael Conley and Paralympian Matt Scott to visit with hundreds of elementary-school students from the Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Washington Park campus. Conley and Scott shared their personal experiences with the crowd and also highlighted the accomplishments of African-Americans in the Olympic Games.
Conley, a Chicago native, attended Luther High School South, where he was a member state champion basketball and track and field teams. He is an Olympic gold medal winner and world champion in the triple jump and held both outdoor and indoor world records. He described how special it was to be speaking to students in Washington Park, not only because it is the proposed site for the 2016 Olympic Stadium, but also because it is where he did his Olympic training.
“It’s an important day because hundreds of elementary-school children learned how African-American sports figures throughout history have broken through barriers and achieved incredible success by participating in the Olympic Games,” said Michael Conley, Olympian (athletics, 1984, 1992 and 1996) and president of World Sport Chicago. “These students go to school right by Washington Park, the proposed site for the Chicago 2016 Olympic Stadium, and will be of age to participate in the 2016 Games, so it’s even more meaningful for them to learn how the Olympic Movement has affected our lives.”
Scott, a 2004 Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, also won a gold medal at the 2007 Parapan American Games and is expected to make the roster for the 2008 Beijing Games. Born with spina bifida, he started out playing sports such as basketball, football and baseball with able-bodied athletes, but doctors encouraged him to try sports for competitors with disabilities after spotting bruises from his tough, competitive play. Nike recognized that same determination and athletic excellence when it cast Scott for its “No excuses” commercial. The spot, which first aired on several networks on December 31, ends with Scott slamming down two basketballs in front of his wheelchair, saying, “My feet hurt.”
“Today was all about the kids and showing them how the African-American athletes who came before them laid the foundation for future generations,” said Scott. “In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of these athletes and honor their contributions.”
Chicago is honored to be competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games alongside such world-class cities as Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.
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About Chicago 2016
Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board comprises business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as chairman and CEO.
Contact: Mica Matsoff, 312-861-4826, media@chicago2016.org.