ORLANDO (November 18, 2009) – In a much anticipated announcement by the Amateur Athletic Union of the US, Inc. (AAU), the host cities have been named for the 2012 through 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games.The largest, national, multi-sports event conducted annually for youth have been awarded to Houston, TX in 2012; Detroit, MI in 2013; Des Moines, IA in 2014; Hampton Roads, VA in 2015; and New Orleans, LA in 2016.All cities have previously hosted the event within the last five years with the exception of the first time 2012 host – Houston, TX.“The AAU Junior Olympic Games are in the hands of five outstanding communities that care about the youth of today,” said Bobby Dodd, President and CEO of the Amateur Athletic Union. “We are excited to be returning to cities that have a successful track record of hosting this event.With the addition of Houston, a new host city to the rotation, the event will continue to exceed the expectations of the participants and their families.”“We are very excited about hosting the AAU Jr. Olympics in Houston,” said Greg Ortale, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This further validates Houston as a top-tier city for major sporting events. We look forward to a long-standing relationship with AAU.” The AAU Junior Olympic Games is the annual showcase event for the AAU.Over 15,000 participants representing the 50 states and US territories take part in over 20 sports during a two-week period each summer.With an estimated 30,000 spectators, the economic impact for the local host communities is estimated at over $40 million.Chairman of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, Kenny Friedman stated, “This is a terrific opportunity for the City of Houston to once again showcase its world class facilities and hospitality.”Since its beginning in Washington D.C. in 1967, the AAU Junior Olympic Games have been conducted in 19 states and 30 cities across the country. The AAU boasts a long list of well-known alumni including Evelyn Ashford, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Carl Lewis, Vonetta Flowers, Bart Conner, Shannon Miller, Morgan White, Tracy Caulkins, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Allan Iverson, Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird.“The AAU Junior Olympic Games pride itself with the Nation’s most outstanding athletes year in and year out,” said Paul Campbell, Chairman. “This event provides a unique opportunity for youth athletes of different sports to come together. Track and field is the leading sport in the event with around 10,000 athletes, making it the largest meet in the United States.”Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for all ages. Over 500,000 participants and 50,000 volunteers share AAU’s philosophy of “Sports for All, Forever.”Divided into 56 Districts, the AAU sanctions 34 sports programs and over 30,000 age division events across the United States annually. For more information on the AAU, visit www.aausports.org.###Contact:Emily Yates, Harris County–Houston Sports Authority, eyates@houstonsports.org
