Inner-City Games
Encyclopedia
The Inner-City Games were founded by Daniel Hernandez,of the Hollenbeck Youth Center, in 1991 as a way to build self-confidence
, self-reliance
and camaraderie among inner-city youth
. The Games began in East Los Angeles
with more than 40,000 youths competing in athletic
and academic competitions. In the wake of the LA riots in 1992, Hernandez envisioned the Games expanding citywide and then nationally. Hernandez shared this vision with Arnold Schwarzenegger
who agreed to be the Games Executive Commissioner. In 1995, the National Inner-City Games Foundation was established. Under the national umbrella, the Games have expanded to 15 cities across the United States
and involved more than one million young people across the country. In 2003, the Inner-City Games was renamed; however in Los Angeles they remained the Inner-City Games.
Self-confidence
The socio-psychological concept of self-confidence relates to self-assuredness in one's personal judgment, ability, power, etc., sometimes manifested excessively.Being confident in yourself is infectious if you present yourself well, others will want to follow in your foot steps towards...
, self-reliance
Self-Reliance
Self-Reliance is an essay written by American Transcendentalist philosopher and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's repeating themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his or her own instincts...
and camaraderie among inner-city youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
. The Games began in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
with more than 40,000 youths competing in athletic
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
and academic competitions. In the wake of the LA riots in 1992, Hernandez envisioned the Games expanding citywide and then nationally. Hernandez shared this vision with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
who agreed to be the Games Executive Commissioner. In 1995, the National Inner-City Games Foundation was established. Under the national umbrella, the Games have expanded to 15 cities across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and involved more than one million young people across the country. In 2003, the Inner-City Games was renamed; however in Los Angeles they remained the Inner-City Games.