The Mayor's Youth Sports Championship Series Initiative Brings the Miami Junior Tennis Cup to the Sony Open
(MIAMI, March 25, 2014) - The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department announced today that the Miami Junior Tennis Cup will be held at the Crandon Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, FL., as part of the Sony Open Tennis tournament. The Mayor’s Youth Sports Championship series is an initiative created by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez that aims to increase participation in youth athletics. As a father, grandfather and lifetime advocate of the long-term health benefits of regular exercise for children, the Mayor knows first-hand the strength of character that can be developed from continuous involvement in athletics. These traits include an increase of self-confidence, resiliency, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and the support of others.
The Miami Junior Tennis Cup will showcase youth tennis at one of the world’s most high profile professional tennis tournaments. Junior players, ages 7-11, will compete in two 16-player divisions for the Mayor’s Cup. Matches will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., March 27-29, on courts A and B. Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will present the trophies on Stadium Court at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.
“We are seeing history in the making for Miami-Dade County’s youth tennis programs. This event showcases the work that is being done in our community to enhance the lives of children through sports,” said Mayor Gimenez.
This event is being presented by Miami-Dade County Parks in association with USTA Florida and IMG.
For more information, including a complete schedule and to purchase tickets to the Sony Open, please visit www.SonyOpenTennis.com.
For more information about youth tennis in Florida, visit www.USTAFlorida.com/youthtennis.
About the Youth Sports Championship Series:
The Youth Sports Championship Series featuring the newly coveted Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Cup, is the vision of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez who as a father, grandfather and volunteer youth sports coach believes in the values and benefits children derive from participating in organized sports. The Mayor’s Youth Sports Championship Series aims to build and support a strong foundation of organized sports throughout Miami-Dade County through a series of sport championships coordinated by the Miami-Dade Parks Department and the local governing Body of the individual youth sport. Champions will be crowned in 10 sports at 15 events, predominantly at Miami-Dade County owned parks and facilities. Winners of championships in tennis, track and field, basketball, baseball, flag football, golf, swimming, cross country, cheer and dance, and soccer will be crowned with the Mayor’s Cup.
About USTA Florida:
Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a section of the United States Tennis Association. It is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with approximately 50,000 members, 1,000 organizational members and a $4 million budget. As the official governing body of tennis in Florida, USTA Florida operates from an executive office in Daytona Beach with 28 staff members and more than 600 volunteers throughout the state working towards a mission to promote and develop tennis in Florida. To learn more about USTA Florida visit www.ustaflorida.com.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.liveaparklife.org.
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