The Optimist-Braille Institute Olympics are held each year in May, at the Braille Institute Youth Center, 3450 Cahuenga Blvd., West Los Angeles (in the general area bounded by the Hollywood Freeway, Universal Center Drive and Cahuenga Boulevard West).
This will be the 22nd year Optimists have been involved in the 26 year old event, and we want to invite all of you to join in.
The Olympics, open to all legally blind persons 6 to 18 years old, is sponsored by Optimist Clubs throughout California, Utah, Arizona, Maryland, Deleware, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
Do you remember the joy of running and jumping when you were a child, what fun it was to
climb a wall? We believe every youngster should have these feelings and experiences. sighted children are free to run and jump: whenever they please. Blind children need special training so they don't get hurt, and often a special event so they can participate in such activities.
The Optimist-Braille Institute Track and Field Olympics is held the day before Mother's Day in Los Angeles. The Optimist Bind Youth Association was formed in 1983 by concerned Optimist Clubs in the Los Angeles area to raise funds to permit more blind youngsters to compete in athletic events. Every club in our district is automatically a member of the association.
Each year, through Optimist efforts, we have increased the number of contestants. Even though we attempt to arrange reduced air, bus and rail fares and even though the Los Angeles Optimist Clubs provide free local housing and mass transportation, it is beyond the means of many blind contestant's families. Our mission is to supplement payment for transportation for the blind athletes wishing to attend. We hope that Optimist Clubs throughout the country will add this event to their list of projects. By providing funds and finding chaperones, clubs can bring a lot of smiles to children's faces. The Optimist Blind Youth Association has funds, albeit limited, to assist athletes who want to compete but who can't provide their own transportation to Los Angeles. To accommodate the largest number of athletes, we pay for a maximum of one chaperone for each two athletes under 18. Athletes and chaperones become guests in individual Optimist's homes with a maximum of three per home. Their visit culminates in a trip to Magic Mountain provided their return schedule is accommodating.
To recap the program: There are no entry fees, and each contestant will receive a free Olympic T-shirt, embroidered patch and handsome participant trophy. Athletes get a free breakfast and lunch. The top three athletes in each event get gold, silver or bronze medals. The following "Fun Day" at Magic Mountain is free for the athletes, and chaperones will get a discounted entry fee. Free housing at Optimists' homes is available Friday and Saturday night. The Optimist hosts will provide dinner Friday and Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning. We have had requests for special diets, and although the Optimist hosts will try to make their guests as comfortable as possible, I'm sure you realize that they're limited to the food they normally provide their own families.
We ask two things from you:
- That you identify blind youngsters in your area you could invite to the Olympics. This can be done by contacting schools for the blind, special departments within your public schools and Youth centers.
- That you get involved by sponsoring their trip to the Olympics; If your club funds are limited this year, we may be able to help.
Please let us know by before March if you plan to participate and how many athletes and chaperones we can expect so we can get the entry forms to you. If you have questions about the Olympics or Optimist Clubs' participation, please contact the Pacific Southwest District Office at: