The Mayor’s Office of Special Events and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Present Chicago Sports Fest Dec. 27

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events & Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois present Chicago Sports Fest, so save the date, it’s FREE and begins Sunday, Dec. 27 to Dec. 28 at McCormick Place in Halls A & B (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive).

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois shares Mayor Daley’s commitment to health and wellness,” Paul S. Boulis, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois president, said. “By leading, partnering, and investing in local initiatives like the Mayor’s Holiday Sports Festival, Blue Cross can help children and their families adopt healthy lifestyle habits.”

Admission and interactive zones to the biggest indoor gym are FREE. Discounted parking in Lot A -$9. Activities take place daily, 10am – 4pm. Interactive zones include trampolines, golf, climbing walls, football, chess, obstacle course, tot’s zone, bowling, table tennis, inflatable tumbling, tennis, badminton, boxing, a pitching zone, fishing ponds, footbag, giant slide, 40-Yard dash, skateboarding area, wrestling, and open courts for volleyball and basketball.

Children and families will also have the opportunity to interact with Radio Disney along with other personalities! There will be special performances and appearances that include hip hop & salsa dancing, a drumline, martial arts demonstrations and more. Hours are 12 to 4 p.m. daily at the Halftime stage. The Halftime Stage is located at the entrance of Hall A. The Chicago Sky, a member of the WNBA, will also be in attendance along with many of your favorite professional teams!

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will host an all-ages chess tournament and there will be instructors on site for beginners. CPS will also host the action-packed Holiday Hoops Basketball boys & girls 7th and 8th grade tournament as well as tennis clinics. The basketball tournament features sixteen teams and the tennis zone offers mini interactive tennis clinics for kids of all ages.

Visit the coolest place at Sports Fest! The Chill Out Zone gives kids the opportunity to rest their muscles and exercise some brain power! Area activities include coloring, board games, kapla block building, and reading. Adults and children alike can visit the expanded Fitness Area presented by the Mayor’s Fitness Council. Certified fitness instructors will lead classes in cardio kickboxing, salsa aerobics, pilates, yoga and more! There are fitness demos, lectures on nutrition, bike safety, and family fitness. Essential health screenings are also available, including body fat composition measurements.

Personal trainers can guide you to a personalized fitness regimen.

Tournament hours vary and include volleyball, floor hockey, and table tennis. Sanctioned tournaments require pre-registration and there may be a nominal fee.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Chicago Sports Fest. Climb aboard a BCBSIL CareVan mobile clinic at the event for a free flu shot. In an effort to promote good health and wellness, BCBSIL has 3 CareVans that travel throughout the state providing immunizations and health screenings to underserved communities. CareVan nurses administered more than 10,000 immunizations and performed hundreds of screenings in 2007.

Call for special hotel rates at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the Hilton Chicago – Mention Chicago Sports Fest. Call 312-567-1234, out-of-state call, 800-233-1234 or call the Hilton Chicago, located at 720 S. Michigan Ave, 312-922-4400. For more info, visit the Web: chicagosportsfest.us or call 312-744-3370.

Activities

Chicago Sports Fest is presented by the City of Chicago and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBS), and produced by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, McCormick Place, and the Chicago Park District. This event is sponsored in part by Chicago Transit Authority, 104.3 Jack FM, Communications Direct, Pepsi-Cola, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Athletico, Hinckley Springs, and Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

With more than 7 million members, BCBS (bcbsil.com) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, BCBS of Illinois is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company. HCSC is an independent licensee of the BCBS Association.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Veronica Resa, 312-744-5648
veronicaresa@cityofchicago.org