The five-ringed symbol of the Olympic Games is intended to represent the colors of all nations in the quadrennial sporting event. On a much smaller and chaotic scale at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club annual Water Olympics last Thursday, only two colors are needed: red and blue.
Jack Voelker wipes the dirt off his hands onto his already dirt-stained jeans. He cleans his glasses with his black Buffalo Beer Week T-shirt and thrusts those same soiled hands into his frayed pockets. Leaning back, he looks up at his hundreds of healthy hop bines stretching toward the sky. He removes his white Chautauqua tennis hat and takes a hand out of his pocket to comb back his hair.
Years ago, an esteemed group of elders who recognized the value of sport — both for its competitive development and community interaction — devised an athletic tournament of epic proportions.
They called this contest the Olympic Games.
The Daily met up with Bryan Voorhis and Anna Ertenberg to discuss Water Olympics, camaraderie at Club and a car wash service that cleans kids.
To purchase reprints of any Daily photographs published in the print edition or online, please contact the Editorial Office at 716-357-6205. Photos by Lauren Rock and Adam Birkan.
SLIDESHOW: At 2 p.m. Wednesday, rows of Boys’ and Girls’ Club campers lined the shore behind Beeson Youth Center. Dressed in swimwear and wrapped in beach towels, the kids eagerly awaited instructions from Chuck Bauer, Club’s aquatic director, who stood on the dock in front of them, megaphone in hand.
The Chautauquan Daily 