Youth Activities Abound for 2007 Mens NCAA Final Four Weekend

The 2007 NCAA Men’s Final Four marks the 30th anniversary of the first Men’s Final Four in Atlanta, and the celebration will go far beyond the games. In fact, there are a variety of youth-oriented events that will put thousands of local and visiting kids and teens in the middle of March Madness – even if they don’t have tickets to the game.

Two great events are happening on Friday, March 30. Locals and visitors alike will be able to catch the first glimpse of their favorite team for free at Final Four FridayTM Team Practices, where the Final Four teams will practice for one-hour each in the Georgia Dome, from 12 – 4 p.m. No ticket is required to enter the Dome; the gates open at 10:30 a.m. and parking is free in the Blue and Yellow lots.

The second exciting event on March 30 is the opening of NCAA® Hoop City® refreshed by Coca-Cola®. The four-day interactive fan festival, celebrating the history and passion of NCAA sports, will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center. Hoop City will be open Friday, from 12 – 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Monday, April 2, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 for ages 12 and up; $5 ages 3-11, college students, military and seniors (55 and over) with proper I.D.; and free for children two and under. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event at the Georgia World Congress Center or online at www.Tickets.com. Visit www.Hoop-City.com for more information.

On Saturday, March 31, The Youth Education through Sports® (YES) Clinics Fueled by POWERade® will be hosting free basketball clinics for boys and girls ages 10 to 16, conducted by some of the nation’s most successful men’s collegiate basketball coaches and student-athletes. Organized by the National Youth Sports Corporation (NYSC), the YES Program is the NCAA’s premier outreach to youth across the country, connecting young athletes with collegiate coaches and student-athletes to provide fundamental instruction in sports, conditioning and life skills at select collegiate championships. The clinics, which are free but require pre-registration, will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at three different locations in Atlanta in conjunction with the 2007 NCAA Men’s Final Four. For more information, visit www.Yesclinics.org, or to print a registration form, go to www.nyscorp.org/yes/schedule06_07.html

Youth also can be part of the excitement of March Madness with the inaugural NCAA® Road to the Final Four® 5K run on Saturday, March 31. The course will begin and end at Centennial Olympic Park. All registrants will be eligible to win tickets to the 2007 NCAA Men’s Final Four semi-final or final games. Participants also will receive an event T-shirt and a complimentary admission to NCAA’s Hoop City refreshed by Coca-Cola. The race starts at 8 a.m., with registration from 7-7:45 a.m. Pre-register at www.active.com for $18 (until March 24 online or postmarked by March 24); $25 after (on-line only or on race day).

In addition to Hoop City, the Road to the Final Four 5K and the YES Clinics, registration is now open for the NCAA Dome Dribble to Hoop City®, scheduled for Sunday, April 1, at 1 p.m. during the height of Final Four weekend festivities. More than 3,000 youth are expected to dribble basketballs along a designated parade route from the Georgia Dome around the Georgia World Congress Center to Hoop City.

At 12:15 p.m., prior to the start of the Dribble, participants will begin to stretch with a high energy warm-up led by players from Georgia State’s men’s and women’s basketball team, and Georgia Tech’s women’s basketball players, the pep band and junior varsity cheerleaders. Everyone who registers will receive a free basketball and T-shirt courtesy of the NCAA and POWERade, and will get free entrance into Hoop City that day. Basketball fans under the age of 18 can sign up by visiting www.atlanta.net/finalfour/events.

 

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