Students from Lake Placid Central School art classes are among the more than 300 elementary, middle, and high school artists participating in a five-country international art-in-sport contest hosted by the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF) with the support of the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority). The art event, themed “Move History Forward,” celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Paris Summer Olympic Games.

In October, the Olympic Authority partnered with AOF to display artwork created by Olympians from around the world at Olympic Authority facilities and to manage programming for Art of Olympians. In collaboration, the Olympic Authority has assisted in securing the participation of Lake Placid students in the international art-in-sport program guided by Olympian artists from AOF. Lake Placid Community School Coordinator Keith Clark oversees the school’s program involvement.

Three logos -- Al Oerter Foundation with rainbow plantlike growths on the left, Art of the Olympians (visual similar to the last), and thje Olympic Regional Development Authority -- displayed horizontally against a black background.

Lake Placid grade, middle, and high school art students are not alone in representing the United States in the five-country art-in-sport program. Student artists from Will Rogers Elementary School and Eagleview Middle School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, also participate in the education and art contest project, which began earlier this year.

Both U.S. communities are closely attached to the Olympic movement. Colorado Springs and Lake Placid are home to the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee Training Centers and museums honoring their Olympic heritage.

Besides U.S. schools, student artists from France, Italy, Slovenia, and Botswana are also submitting artwork.

Competition entries will soon be forwarded to Al Oerter Foundation program coordinators for judging. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to each participating classroom, and special art-in-sport posters will be given to all participants by the LeRoy Neiman Foundation.

U.S. Ambassador to France Denise Campbell Bauer and HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco will present award medals to the program’s overall winners during the May 15 ceremonies at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.