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Fair Game Project launched to expand sports access for Omaha students.The new sports federation was unveiled at Burke High School in Omaha and will serve all 87 Omaha Public Schools and more than 52,000 students.Founded by North Omaha native and Omaha Central alumnus Josh Jones, the effort aims to unite OPS athletics under one system, create clearer pathways from elementary through high school and improve access to facilities.”I cannot believe that North and South Omaha, Omaha Public Schools, are all coming together,” Jones said. “It’s amazing.”Chief of Staff Thomas Warren, representing Mayor John Ewing, said the city is committing more than $100 million in sports facility upgrades. That includes a $45 million multi-purpose activity center at Levi Carter Park, an $8.5 million baseball and softball complex, and a $50 million soccer complex with 16 fields.”Many of our kids are being denied an opportunity to participate because they can’t afford to play,” Warren said. “That’s the purpose of this convening.”Data shared by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Initiative showed OPS has met the national benchmark for youth sports participation at 64%, but barriers remain. Organizers said many students reported they do not know how to get started, while cost was cited as a barrier across age groups, races and genders.OPS Superintendent Matthew Ray called the initiative a turning point.”This is connected to our moonshot,” Ray said. “It will connect kids to school, and then we’ll get them reading. It’s about academics. It’s about athletics. It’s about keeping kids at school. This is where it turns.”The summit also featured keynote speaker Inky Johnson, a former University of Tennessee wide receiver and motivational speaker, who spoke about the impact coaches and teachers had on his life.”People don’t burn out because of what they do,” Johnson said. “They burn out because life makes them forget why they do it. Never allow that to happen.”Fair Game Project said it will begin programming this year in basketball, football and volleyball, with more sports to follow.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Fair Game Project launched to expand sports access for Omaha students.
The new sports federation was unveiled at Burke High School in Omaha and will serve all 87 Omaha Public Schools and more than 52,000 students.
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Founded by North Omaha native and Omaha Central alumnus Josh Jones, the effort aims to unite OPS athletics under one system, create clearer pathways from elementary through high school and improve access to facilities.
“I cannot believe that North and South Omaha, Omaha Public Schools, are all coming together,” Jones said. “It’s amazing.”
Chief of Staff Thomas Warren, representing Mayor John Ewing, said the city is committing more than $100 million in sports facility upgrades. That includes a $45 million multi-purpose activity center at Levi Carter Park, an $8.5 million baseball and softball complex, and a $50 million soccer complex with 16 fields.
“Many of our kids are being denied an opportunity to participate because they can’t afford to play,” Warren said. “That’s the purpose of this convening.”
Data shared by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Initiative showed OPS has met the national benchmark for youth sports participation at 64%, but barriers remain. Organizers said many students reported they do not know how to get started, while cost was cited as a barrier across age groups, races and genders.
OPS Superintendent Matthew Ray called the initiative a turning point.
“This is connected to our moonshot,” Ray said. “It will connect kids to school, and then we’ll get them reading. It’s about academics. It’s about athletics. It’s about keeping kids at school. This is where it turns.”
The summit also featured keynote speaker Inky Johnson, a former University of Tennessee wide receiver and motivational speaker, who spoke about the impact coaches and teachers had on his life.
“People don’t burn out because of what they do,” Johnson said. “They burn out because life makes them forget why they do it. Never allow that to happen.”
Fair Game Project said it will begin programming this year in basketball, football and volleyball, with more sports to follow.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
