UC Davis is only a week away from hosting an estimated 1,000 young athletes from across the nation, along with their coaches and families, for the first-ever West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games.

The athletes, mostly 8 to 14 years old, will compete in six sports at several venues on the UC Davis campus. The six-day event, scheduled for June 28-July 3, will offer: baseball, boys and girls basketball, diving, jump rope, and juniors and high school wrestling.

The Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU, is one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit, volunteer sports organizations. It sponsors an annual AAU Junior Olympic Games throughout the United States, and the 40th annual games are scheduled for July 26-Aug. 5 in Hampton Roads, Va.

But the AAU is billing this summer's event at UC Davis as the "1st Annual West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games," with the hope that a West Coast competition will continue for years to come. When AAU officials came to campus last November to announce the games, they said they had selected UC Davis and the surrounding area to host the event because they wanted a community that would be safe for young people, and they were particularly interested in a university setting.

Indeed, the 1st Annual West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games will include three special social events designed to bring together the visiting athletes, coaches and families with the campus and greater Davis communities:

• Night on the Town, June 28: Athletes and their families will be invited to attend and participate in the regular Wednesday night Davis Farmer's Market, at 4th and C streets, and visit downtown businesses.
• Swim with Fox 40, June 29: Athletes, their families and the Davis community will be invited to attend a free open swim from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the UC Davis Rec Pool, compliments of Fox 40, KTXL-TV in Sacramento. The pool is located at the corner of Hutchison Drive and LaRue Road. Fox 40 will be there to promote its "Winning Attitudes" campaign that encourages young athletes to practice good sportsmanship.
• Athlete Village, July 1: Athletes and their families are invited to enjoy all the activities planned for the Athlete Village that will be set up on the campus's Hutchison Field, across from the Rec Pool at the corner of Hutchison Drive and LaRue Road. The unique gathering spot will offer stage performances, activities, food, inflatable games, strolling magicians and other entertainment. This event will not be open to the public.

Complete information about event schedules and the Athlete Village is available online at http://www.wcaaujrogames.org.