Olympian Charmaine Crooks 1 of 5 reasons to check out Markham Sports Day

5-time Olympian and silver medallist will be at Pan Am Centre

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 12, 2019
Heidi Riedner

Five-time Olympian and silver-medallist Charmaine Crooks will be at the Markham Sports Day taking place at the Pan Am Centre Sunday, Sept. 15.

The first Canadian woman to run 800 metres in under two minutes will be available for photos, autographs and to share some inspiration.

“Building confidence, leadership and teamwork are some of the benefits a child will experience through sports,” Crooks said, adding these core skills not only help a child succeed in sports, but can also help shape their ethics, which they take forward throughout their lives. It has to start early in life and community sports play a key role. Markham Sports Day is the perfect opportunity to get kids out and active to try a sport. I wholeheartedly support community events like this.”

The annual event is a great opportunity to try a new sport or perfect your skills in a sport you already love.

“Markham is home to many great and accomplished athletes, and we take our sports seriously,” Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said.

“We are a global sports destination, and the Markham Pan Am Centre is a world-class facility hosting countless international and national championships. Let’s come together as a community, have some fun and celebrate what we love about sports, while nurturing the next generation of athletes.”

There will be a variety of indoor and outdoor try-it activities for all ages and abilities, including kendo, taekwondo, ball hockey, dry-land curling, soccer, netball, basketball, sledge hockey chairs, volt hockey chairs and more.

Take your bike and helmet and get safety tips from Can-Bike.

Watch an awe-inspiring Breaking Dance Battle hosted by the Universal Breaking League, or meet Andrew Platt, ball hockey gold medallist, and get some shooting tips from the master.

No registration is required.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with opening ceremonies scheduled for 1 p.m.