Hatboro YMCA's Future Olympians?

Who says you can't go to the Summer Olympics?

For 50 day campers - who will be competing among 900 campers from all 10 YMCA branches throughout Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties in the fourth annual YMCA Summer Day Camp Olympics at the Rocky Run YMCA - the fanfare of London will be coming to Delaware County. 

That is, this year’s olympics will emulate the official 2012 Olympic games in London. From the opening ceremonies to the games, the Y’s Summer Day Camp Olympics, which began Wednesday and conclude today, will be as competitive and exciting as the 2012 Olympic games in London. Each Y branch will represent a different country from one of the following: Argentina, Spain, Ireland, Holland, Australia, China, Haiti, Brazil, Egypt and the United States.

For the first few weeks of this camp season, all the Y campers have been learning and embracing the different cultures, foods and languages of all the countries above.

As part of the competition, the campers will rotate between 10 unique and traditional games, such as 100 yard dash, water relay, potato sack race, soccer shootout, baton relay and many other engaging activities. 

Along with learning the unique traits of the various countries, all YMCA branches are embracing the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” initiative. The local branch of the program, which recently honored with a , was developed by the Anti-Defamation League to provide a model for challenging bigotry and intolerance in communities, schools and other locations. To earn the distinction of being designated as No Place for Hate - as was the case at and - a participating organization must form a No Place for Hate committee, adopt a resolution pledging to create a more inclusive environment, and implement a number of projects promoting respect for differences.

This year’s Summer Day Camp Olympics promotes respect for differences, and will be used as one of the final projects.