INTERNATIONAL   FRIENDSHIP AND   FREEDOM GAMES:
  April 18-19, 2008
When I was Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Standford University, and before that at the High School and Junior College level, I always sought to have athletes I coached compete in meets that had real meaning and significance beyond just running, jumping, and throwing. With that in mind I would like to share the following with you:

Monday, February 1, 1960 North Carolina A&T freshman, Ezell Blair, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond left their campus to go to the lunch counter at F.W. Woolworth in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. As blacks they were refused service despite the fact they sat at the counter until closing. The next day they returned with 25 more protesters. This was the beginning of the "Sit-In-Movement", a peaceful protest tactic that was repeated in more than 250 cities, resulting in lunch counters ultimately being integrated throughout the South and the rest of the country. This was a critical part of the Civil Rights struggles of the 60s and 70s that has been somewhat overlooked. The purpose of the International Friendship and Freedom Games is to bring attention to the "A&T Four" and their contribution to equal rights and protection in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Fast Forward to today. The track at North Carolina A&T is one of the fastest in the country as demonstrated by performances turned in at the following events:
      NCAA Regional Championships
      USATF National Youth Nationals
      North Carolina High School State Meet
      Conference Championships

The 2007 addition produced the fastest time in the world in the Men's 200 meters (20.21), by Lashawn Merritt and Men's 110 meter hurdles (13.21), by David Oliver, as of the day of the meet.

This is an invitation for you and your team to participate in the 2008 International Friendship and Freedom Games. The dates will be April 18-19, 2008 at North Carolina A&T. The meet, while hosting elite and emerging elite athletes, is very high school and college friendly, including all of the relays contested in the North Carolina High School State Meet (4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800).

Thanks very much for your kind consideration.

Brooks Johnson- Executive Director
(407)758-0755