Schwartz: 'Beat The Streets' Set To Showcase Wrestling Extravaganza In Times Square
By Peter Schwartz
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You can experience just about everything during a walk through Times Square. From restaurants to theatres to a variety of shops, that unique area of New York City has a lot to offer. Later this week, you'll even be able to see a very special sporting event.
For the fourth time, there will be wrestling in Times Square.
"Salsa in the Square" will take place on Thursday, and will pit Team USA against Cuba as part of a fundraising event for "Beat The Streets Wrestling," a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City Wrestling.
This will also be the sixth straight year that "Beat the Streets" is hosting a major international-style wrestling competition as part of its gala activities. Last year, Team USA defeated a world all-star team in Times Square, 8-3.
Thursday will be an historic day in Times Square as it will mark the first time that a dual meet between a U.S. team and a Cuban team in an Olympic sport will take place in the United States since diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored.
"We're really excited," said Jim Fallis, executive director of Beat the Streets. "It's going to be an opportunity for the sport of wrestling to take center stage in Times Square. It's also an opportunity for us to showcase our kids that are involved."
The event will begin at 4 p.m. with "Beat the Streets" exhibition matches in Duffy Square at 46th Street followed by USA against Cuba at 5:30 p.m. Then at 7:30 p.m., the annual Gala Celebration will take place at Best Buy Theatre located at 1515 Broadway.
At the end of the day, this event is expected to raise over $1 million for "Beat the Streets."
"This is the key fundraiser for us to do all of the programs that provide opportunities for over 3,000 kids to be involved in the sport of wrestling," said Fallis. "That money is raised and comes through the gala that we have."
While the USA-Cuba matchup will feature wrestlers that you will see at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the event is designed to showcase an organization that enriches the life of many kids. The concept provides the youth of New York City an alternative activity.
"Wrestling doesn't take a lot of space or a lot of startup money," said Fallis. "It gets kids involved. The residual benefits are building character while becoming more physically fit and more alert."
The program is for both boys and girls and a key aspect is that you don't have to be great at wrestling to have a chance to grow as an individual. The lessons that are learned through wrestling allow a child to build other character traits that will help them be a success in life.
Education is a big part of that success and "Beat the Streets" has discovered just how it has been able to help kids in school. What it has found is that the college readiness index of kids that are involved in wrestling runs about 20 points higher than it does for kids that are not involved in the sport.
"We're really excited about what that does in terms of not just getting them to think about college and moving on, but also how it prepared them and their ability to study, focus, and prepare for tests much more effectively than perhaps those that are not involved in wrestling," Fallis said.
New York City is no stranger to historic sporting events and this Thursday will be no different. It will be a chance to see Olympic hopefuls right on the streets of Time Square, while also giving young kids a huge stage to showcase their talents.
The entire day allows "Beat the Streets" to raise money and to continue to do the great work that it has been doing with the youth of New York City.
Both reserved and general admission tickets are available for the event but pedestrians and non-ticket holders are encouraged to watch. For ticket information, go to www.btsny.org or call 212-245-6570. Information on tickets for the gala can be found at www.btsny.org/gala.
You can follow me on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. You can also follow @BeattheStreets and @USAWrestling
