Rowlett to get dose of Olympic spirit

Rowlett is going to be full of Olympic spirit on May 5. The United States Olympic Committee’s Walk to London 2012 event is making a stop at the city’s Pecan Grove Park, 5300 Main Street. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rowlett residents, and former Olympians, Sammy Walker and Janine Bowman, along with the Texas Chapter of the U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association, are hosting the event, which celebrates the 2012 Olympics in London.

“This is a national celebration of the Olympic spirit,” Walker said.

Walker said the event was planned in conjunction with the city staff and the parks and recreation department. The Walk to London 2012 is a series of 20 walks held in communities around the United States to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Movements and highlight the importance of regular exercise and a commitment to lifelong fitness ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Rowlett event is a precursor celebration to the Dallas leg of the walk, which will take place at the Cotton Bowl on June 22.

“When I first talked to the mayor, I was thinking we would host a small event since we had a big one coming up after it in Dallas. Mayor Todd Gottel didn’t want just a small event. He wanted something memorable so that is what we are doing,” Walker said. “This is all about making people aware of the Olympic Games. The USOC wants people to watch the games and root our American Olympians on as they go for the gold in London.”

As part of the event participants can take part in a rapid-fire Nerf Gun shooting competition prepared by Olympic shooters Bowman and John McNally, a Rockwall resident.

“They have set up five targets and if you hit them you can win a prize,” Walker said. “This is really unique to our event since they came up with the idea themselves.”

The highlight of the event is a celebratory walk on Pecan Grove Trail. The first 500 participants in the walk get a free Walk to London T- shirt, compliments of the USOC.

The event also includes Olympic sport demonstrations by former Olympians from around the Metroplex including a weightlifting demonstration and a boxing exhibition. Walker said there will be approximately 12-15 Olympians on hand at the event.

There will be an Olympic torch available for kids to take their picture with and the Olympians will also be available to autograph photos. There will also be several vendors offering refreshments.

The cost if the event is being paid for by the Texas Chapter of the U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association. They are actively seeking sponsors and donations to help offset the cost of the event. All donations that exceed the event cost will go to benefit the associations charity, Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund. There is no cost to attend the event. It is open to all ages.

For information on the event contact Sammy Walker at 469-955-3158 or by email at sammywalker76olympian@yahoo.com.

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...