U.S. Olympians to host walking event at Coliseum Saturday

You might not be able to walk in the footsteps of U.S. athletes who have competed in the Olympics, but you can walk alongside them in one of 20 walking events designed to celebrate Olympians and Paralympians in advance of the London Summer Games.

The Southern California chapter of the U.S. Olympians Assn. -- one of the largest groups in the country -- will kick off the series of events on Saturday in Exposition Park. The Olympians’ aim is to have enough people walk enough miles to stretch from all the U.S. cities that have hosted the Summer Games -- Los Angeles, St. Louis and Atlanta -- to London.

Community members are invited to join the Olympians in these walks throughout the country. Distances will range from a mile to five kilometers. Walks will be held every weekend through the finale on June 23 in Washington, to coincide with International Olympic Day. Olympic-related activities are being planned for each event.

“The USOA and our Olympic and Paralympic athletes are eager to join with our communities to celebrate the power of the Olympic and Paralympic movement, inspire the youth who will be our next generation of Team USA athletes, and highlight the importance of fitness,” said three-time Olympic triple jumper Willie Banks, president of the USOA.

“Walk to London 2012 will be a first step in this program and we hope to host similar events ahead of future Games as well.”

More information is available at www.walktolondon2012.org, at the Facebook page walktolondon2012 and on Twitter by following @walk2london2012.

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U.S. Olympians to host walking event at Coliseum Saturday