Junior
Goodwill Games Questions and Answers
What are the Junior Goodwill Games?
The Junior Goodwill Games are a national grassroots sports program and encourage kids to
participate in sports. The main spokesperson is Dan O'Brien, decathlete and Olympic Gold
medalist. Olympic champion Swimmer, Jenny Thompson, is the spokesperson for the swimming
competition and Atlanta Hawks Guard Steve Smith is the spokesperson for the basketball
portion of the program.
There are three sports in the Junior Goodwill Games: Basketball, Swimming and Track and
Field.
Who can compete in the Junior Goodwill Games?
If you are between 8 and 13, you can compete in the Junior Goodwill Games.
Where will the Junior Goodwill Games take place?
Finalists in the Junior Goodwill Games will have a chance to compete in New York during
the 1998 Goodwill Games. To compete in the finals, you must first compete in a local
competition and a sectional competition.
There will be local competitions all over the United States. Be sure to look under the
Find your Local button to learn the name and phone number of your state coordinator.
The State Coordinator for your state can tell you where to go to participate in a local
competition. If you are a top scorer from the local competition, you'll go on the
sectional competition. Finalists from the sectional competition have a chance to go to New
York to compete in the Junior Goodwill Games finals!
Why did the Goodwill Games start the Junior Goodwill Games?
The Goodwill Games have changed their mission. Today, the Games strive to benefit children
worldwide. The Junior Goodwill Games are just one more way to fulfill the mission.
The Junior Goodwill Games want to encourage you to participate in sports. Sports are a
great experience for kids. They make you stronger and keep you healthy, they even teach
you how to be a better person.