Jackson Parks & Recreation hosts Summer Youth Olympics

JACKSON, Tenn. — More than 300 young athletes filled the Oman Arena Friday morning to compete.

“Today, the kids are here to have fun,” Camp coach Taylor Braxter said. “It is a little bit of competition, but at the end of the day is about love, and they are just going to enjoy themselves cause that’s what summer camp is all about.”

Eight camps of kids ages 6 to 16 meet once a year to become the champions.

“Each site has to practice with their athletes, and hopefully this will encourage them to be more active and keep moving more,” Bridgett Parham with Jackson Parks and Recreation said.

Coaches work throughout the summer to get these kids ready to compete.

Leaders said there’s more to these events than the gold.

“The athletes will be focusing more on sportsmanship. We want them not to focus on winning or losing,” Parham said.

This year’s winners take the trophy back to their camp for the entire year. The event is sponsored each year by Jackson Parks and Recreation.