As his preschool son Dylan and classmates played in the Early Childhood Education Center olympics yesterday, dad Jerry Donohue raised a conundrum faced by scant few 4-year-old athletes.
"He's got issues. He doesn't know if he's going to represent the Republic of Ireland or if he's going to represent the U.S.A. He's got two passports," joked Donohue, a Dedham resident who hails from County Galway, Ireland.
Most participants had a simpler take on the early childhood olympics 2009, which concluded yesterday after two days of beanbag tossing, running through cones, ball lobbing, soccer kicks, and tunnel crawling. Whether the kids darted or meandered languidly among the cones, or made or missed a goal, everyone received a gold medal.
"We all did first place," declared Yahaira Torres, 6. The kindergartener said her favorite event was the tunnel "because it's dark."
Preschooler Natasha Mays, 5, liked it for another reason. "My favorite was going through the tunnel," she said, "because I could see the other tunnel."
Preschooler Audrey McCormick, 5, recounted how she walked between the cones, "hit the soccer ball," and "went through the tube."
"My favorites were all of them," she said.
Dad Jarrod McCormick, with his wife Anna at his side, asked daughter Audrey who she won her medal for - her dad?
"No, mama," Audrey said. After that prompted laughter, she quickly changed her response to "mama and daddy."
Parent volunteers staged the games, with each class participating in 15-minute sessions. As Olympic theme music played triumphantly, each class paraded around the gym, with students holding American flags or faux torches, or wearing green Statue of Liberty crowns on their heads.
After completing the five-event course, the kids were given a medal, and a water bottle and Cheerios donated by local businesses.
Organizer Kim Rutherford said she started the olympics a half-dozen years ago to raise money for a new section of the education center's playground.
This year, parents pledged money by event or through a lump sum, with most families giving $10 to $20. Overall, Rutherford hopes to raise $2,000 for the school PTO through this year's event.
After Dylan Donohue's class was done, his father noted the Irish don't win many golds.
"We're going to have a parade for him in Dublin when we get back," he said.
Daily News staff writer Edward B. Colby can be reached at 781-433-8336 or ecolby@cnc.com.
