In search of mini-Olympians

You won’t find the pole vault or the gymnastics champions at Arkansas’ Little Olympics. But the Frisbee-tossing, rope-tugging fifth-grade students exhibit the same champion’s spirit and sportsmanship as the 2004 Olympians in Athens, Greece. That’s exactly why the Springdale Kiwanis club conducts the games each year.

Nearly 600 fifth-graders participated in the games this past May. The games began in 1975 as a way for the community’s 10 elementary schools to come together and show their spirit.

“All competitors get a participation ribbon,” says Springdale Kiwanian John Blackwell, “and we give out gold, silver, and bronze medals to each of the individual and team winners. We also give out a spirit award—a traveling trophy the schools display for the year in their lobby.”

About 50 Kiwanians volunteer their time for the games, but it’s not just the adults getting into the spirit. The Springdale High School Key Club and Southwest Junior High School Builders Club help the event run smoothly, and for 30 years, it has.

“You talk to Kiwanians who participated in it when they were kids,” John says. “People all over Springdale know what Little Olympics is all about.”