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.
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.
3 months ago
