Blog
IL Winter Olympics Hit the 412 Youth Zone
February 18, 2026
The Winter Olympics may be taking place in Italy this year, but the 412 Youth Zone’s IL Winter Olympics happened right here in Pittsburgh. Athleticism, teamwork, and energy were on full display at the Kingsley Association Gymnasium on February 4th and 11th during our monthly What’s Next and High School Night Events. Youth Zone members rose to the challenge and engaged with basketball, pickleball, curling, trivia, rock climbing, and even foosball. And while these may not all be traditional winter Olympic games, the effort that Youth Zone members put into “taking home the gold” personified the true spirit of the 2026 Olympics: excellence, respect, and friendship.
A sense of excitement filled the air as the event kicked off with YZ Coach Justin’s masterful remix of the Olympic theme. Participants filled the space early and ready to get in on the action! YZ member Savannah remarked that this event showed her how much she loved pickleball, and that she couldn’t wait to find a new space in the community to continue to work on her game. Savannah went on to challenge anyone who would take the court with her, eventually bringing home the gold! Other youth couldn’t make time to share their feedback because they were busy running full-court presses during the basketball tournament or clinging to a rock wall and encouraging others to get in on the fun. That level of peer-to-peer encouragement was perhaps the most special aspect of these events; it wasn’t just about winning or being competitive, young people made sure to call their peers into the action and encouraged everyone to participate regardless of skill level.
The space at the Youth Zone drop-in center does not fully allow for this level of movement and exploration of energy. Through partnering with the Kingsley Association, we were able to get a glimpse of our members that we seldom see--young people thriving and engaging, making connections through activity and competition, and proving that everyone can be a winner at the IL Olympics.
A sense of excitement filled the air as the event kicked off with YZ Coach Justin’s masterful remix of the Olympic theme. Participants filled the space early and ready to get in on the action! YZ member Savannah remarked that this event showed her how much she loved pickleball, and that she couldn’t wait to find a new space in the community to continue to work on her game. Savannah went on to challenge anyone who would take the court with her, eventually bringing home the gold! Other youth couldn’t make time to share their feedback because they were busy running full-court presses during the basketball tournament or clinging to a rock wall and encouraging others to get in on the fun. That level of peer-to-peer encouragement was perhaps the most special aspect of these events; it wasn’t just about winning or being competitive, young people made sure to call their peers into the action and encouraged everyone to participate regardless of skill level.
The space at the Youth Zone drop-in center does not fully allow for this level of movement and exploration of energy. Through partnering with the Kingsley Association, we were able to get a glimpse of our members that we seldom see--young people thriving and engaging, making connections through activity and competition, and proving that everyone can be a winner at the IL Olympics.