- Salt Lake City's Olympic Day featured Olympians engaging kids in fun activities.
- Nine-year-old Eevie Sayana enjoyed playing Simon Says with Olympic athletes.
- Paralympic medalist David Blair inspired children by sharing his medals and stories.
SALT LAKE CITY — Nine-year-old Eevie Sayana shyly acknowledged how much fun it was to win a round of Simon Says played with a pair of Olympians Tuesday to mark the internationally celebrated Olympic Day in Salt Lake City's Liberty Park.
Eevie said she liked having to listen closely to the prompts from a Youth City instructor, Ciney Sanchez, and not be tricked into making a hop, jump or other movement that wasn't preceded by "Simon says."
But what really made the experience enjoyable?
"Playing it," she said before joining another round of the competitions set up in the park by the Utah Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the help of a half-dozen Olympians and Paralympians and the summer program for grade schoolers.
That love of the game is key to staying motivated as an athlete, said long track speedskater Conor McDermott-Mostowy after playing Simon Says himself. McDermott-Mostowy, who made his Olympic debut this year at Italy's 2026 Winter Games, said there's also a lot to be learned.
"When you're having fun, it's much easier to get focused," he said, noting that physical activities at any level are a chance to pick up "soft skills, discipline and focus and attention to detail, all those skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life."
Olympic Day was established by the Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee to commemorate its founding in 1874. This year, the IOC's theme is "You can do this! Let's move," encouraging people around the world to be active.
Two-time Olympic short track speedskater Julie Letai, just named the organizing committee's athlete experience coordinator as part of a reorganization, told the Youth City participants that "just moving around and having fun" is the first step to becoming an Olympian.
For Rufus Anderson, 11, the fun part of the hourlong event under smoky skies came when he tried on one of the five Paralympic medals won by track and field athlete David Blair. Born with a club foot, Blair, 50, most recently won gold at the 2026 Summer Games in Paris.
"It's heavy," Rufus said. "I didn't win it, but it's definitely nice to wear around your neck. It weighs down your neck, but it's like at the same time, it feels comfy. It just feels good to wear it because you know someone put a lot of work into it, to get it."
He already has his own dreams of someday winning an Olympic medal in ice hockey, even though he's just started playing the sport.
"I want to," Rufus said. "I'm planning on being a pro hockey player."
Blair, who said he never attends an Olympic or Paralympic event without his medals, said they often get an emotional reaction. Tuesday, there were "lots of oohs and whoas. They get very excited. They understand it," he said.
But Rufus decided to do more than just hold a medal.
"I looked over, and one of them had it around his neck," Blair said, laughing. "He was starting to leave and I said, 'Hey, you've got to come back. You have to stay this close to me while these are out on display.'"
