{"id":40373,"date":"2013-10-02T09:09:38","date_gmt":"2013-10-02T13:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/?p=40373"},"modified":"2013-10-02T09:15:17","modified_gmt":"2013-10-02T13:15:17","slug":"fourth-annual-eks-day-celebrated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/2013\/10\/fourth-annual-eks-day-celebrated","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Annual EKS Day Celebrated"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On Saturday, September 28, U.S. Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires John Dinkelman hosted the Fourth Annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day at the U.S. Ambassador\u2019s Residence under the theme, “Play Unified to Live Unified!”.<\/p>\n

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This excited guest enjoys the face painting, courtesy of Seahorse Face Painting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event, held in partnership with Special Olympics Bahamas, brought together more than 250 volunteers including members of the U.S. Embassy family, Special Olympics Bahamas coaches and athletes, as well as volunteers from local organizations for a day of inclusive sport and play.<\/p>\n

Among the invited guests on hand to support the event were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Daniel Johnson and Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald.<\/p>\n

Again this year, the front lawn of the U.S. Ambassador\u2019s residence was a buzz of activity as it was transformed into a mini \u201cCamp Shriver,\u201d where the athletes and volunteers spent most of the morning, enjoying food, fun, games, face painting and music.<\/p>\n

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U.S. Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires John Dinkelman takes a splash in the dunk tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Activities included bocce, tennis, the egg and spoon race, and the sack race. Once again the featured attraction was the dunk tank, where dozens of athletes lined up to take turns at attempts to \u201cdunk\u201d the Charg\u00e9 and other invited guests.<\/p>\n

Each year, EKS Day is celebrated globally to honor Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver\u2019s legacy of bringing people together with and without intellectual disabilities to participate in sports.\u00a0 The day is set aside to promote volunteerism while paying tribute to Mrs. Shriver for her inspiration, impact and indomitable spirit.<\/p>\n

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U.S. Embassy volunteers serve delicious pizzas provided courtesy of Marco\u2019s pizza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The U.S. Embassy wishes to express appreciation to the management and staff of Marco\u2019s Pizza, the primary sponsor of the annual EKS Day celebrations, for its standing partnership to provide complimentary pizzas which helps to make the annual event a success.<\/p>\n

United States Embassy, Nassau<\/p>\n

Top photo caption: The sack race was one of the featured events at EKS Day.<\/p>\n