International Children’s Games 2015
From 24 June through 29 June the 49th edition of the International Children’s Games will be held in Alkmaar (The Netherlands). Athletes from around the world will come to Alkmaar to participate in the following sports: athletics, beachvolleyball, golf, judo, tennis, gymnastics, football, volleyball and swimming. Very busy times for the organization of the ICC Alkmaar. What happened in the last month? It’s time for a news update!
Registration
The definitive number of athletes who are coming to Alkmaar is now certain. We are proud to be able to inform you that a record number of no less than 1289 athletes and their 373 coaches have registered. They are from 91 different cities and represent countries like the United States, Canada, Singapore, China, Russia, Kenya, Slovenia and Switzerland. 312 athletes will be participating in the track & field competition, there will be 34 beach volleyball players, 215 football players, 27 golf players, 59 gymnasts, 92 judokas, 317 swimmers, 83 tennis players and 145 volley ball players.
Sports city
The organizers of the Games, the Stichting Top Events regio Alkmaar (STERA) board, gave a presentation about ICG to the Alkmaar city council on 12 March. The mayor and the aldermen were enthusiastic about the organisation and of course about the large number of registrations. The city council will get updates on 23 April and on 11 June.
With ICG coming to Alkmaar, the alderman for Sports of Alkmaar, Peter de Baat, sees great opportunities for Alkmaar as Sports city. The city council finds more playing of sports and exercising important and also encourages this. ‘Athletes of all levels should feel more and more at home in Alkmaar Sports city. Because they find high quality accommodation here. Because there are plenty of Regional Training centres for talented athletes. Because the surroundings invite you to cycle, walk and run. And just because sports are part of the solution for many problems that a municipality has to contend with’, says Peter de Baat. ‘As far as I’m concerned the International Children’s Games are already a highlight and a kickoff for Alkmaar Sports city. He said: ‘I hope to welcome many of you.’
Volunteers
Since 1 February it is possible to enrol online as a volunteer of the ICG Alkmaar! During the International Children’s Games the whole city of Alkmaar will be about the International Children’s Games. The ICG is everywhere: 9 sport clubs all over Alkmaar, a big Olympic village, an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony and so on, the region of Alkmaar will scream ICG!
Would you like to be part of this international sports event and have an unforgettable experience? Great! Become a volunteer! (https://icg-alkmaar2015.com/nl/vrijwilligers/) You can find all the information about the ICG on the website (https://icg-alkmaar2015.com/).
3D Mascot
Alkmaar talent Thijs Wester made a unique 3D animation of the ICG mascot VICGO. This made the little guy come alive and he plays the lead, among other things, in various nice promotional films about Alkmaar and the ICG.
Design of Medal
Not just the athletes from Alkmaar, but also all the children from this city are being involved with the Games! As part of the educational programme ‘Altijd Prijs’ (Everyone’s a Winner), that all the children from Alkmaar primary schools can participate in, the first designs of pupils of the Durv! School were received last week. The winning design will soon hang around the necks of the winners. With the programme ‘Adopt a City’ children in secondary school get the opportunity to get linked to a participating city and in the build-up to the Games they can contact each other.
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