Valley students to compete in Junior NYO Feb. 15-17

ANCHORAGE — More than 800 elementary school students from across Alaska will gather this weekend to compete in the Junior Native Youth Olympics Games Alaska Feb. 15-17 at Clark Middle School, 150 Bragaw St., Anchorage.

The event is free and open to the public. Competition is from 2 to 6 p.m., Feb. 15 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 16-17.

“We look forward to the 2013 Games with great anticipation, as we have another record-breaking number of athletes competing this year,” said Gloria O’Neill, president and CEO for Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC). “These dynamic young people inspire us with their enthusiasm and talent, and all the hard work they have invested to prepare themselves for competition.”

The first NYO Games were held in 1971, with 12 schools participating in a variety of events traditionally used by Alaska Native people as a way to test hunting and survival skills. For example, the Eskimo stick pull is based on a strengthening exercise that Native hunters used to prepare themselves for quickly snatching and pulling seals or fish from the water. This year, JNYO athletes in grades three and four will test their strength with a new event, the arm pull.

For a full schedule of events, visit citci.org/event-programs/nyo-games/.