Monday, March 21, 2005
MONTREAL, QUE -- Montreal Impact captain Mauro Biello and Impact Chairman of the board Claude Chagnon will be the honorary chairmen of the 28th Montreal Games, which will take place two consecutives weekends, April 1 to 3 and April 8 to 10.
More than 5,000 athletes from the ages of 6 to 12 will be part of this huge sporting event that will be held at the Impact's home, the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, as well as at five other sites.
Biello accepted to associate his name with the event with great enthusiasm. "I'm pleased to be part of the Montreal Games," said Biello. "Youngsters have to be aware that physical activity and sports can be fun, and that it is possible to make their dreams come true with a little determination."
For his part, Claude Chagnon would like to make business groups aware of the importance of an event like this one for young Montrealers. "The taste for sports and competition are developed at a young age, and what they will experience at the Montreal Games is unique," said Chagnon. "Practicing a sport promotes good values in children.
Those values will be useful throughout their lives as it will help them to do their best, surpass their expectations, be disciplined, respect their opponents and accept new challenges."
In 1996, when he was still a player on the squad, Impact head coach Nick DeSantis was honorary chairman for the 19th edition of the Montreal Games.
The Montreal Games were created in 1977, after the excitement of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. It is a major sporting event for Montreal's children who are registered in sports initiation programs.
Since February, approximately 15,000 youngsters have taken part in the preliminary selection from almost all of the 27 Montreal districts in order to battle for a place in the final games.
