On October 24, 2015 the Chicago Parks District youth boxing team faced Dublin XI, an Irish youth boxing team, as a part of a new youth exchange program. The boxing team, their families, and other community members gathered at the South Shore Cultural Center to participate in this event filled with great food, company, and cultural exchange.

The evening started off with a delicious dinner with dessert from Eli’s Cheesecake and drinks from Revolution Brewing. Dinner was followed by an opening ceremony featuring performances from the Shelia Tully Academy of Irish Dance and the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band. We had a great time sharing two of Chicago’s most talented Irish entertainment groups with the young people from the Dublin Youth Boxing team and their families!

At 8:00pm the Boxing Bouts began, starting with the youngest age group. Over 30 young people, 12 to 18 years old,  participated in the matches throughout the evening. Thanks to the Chicago Park District, youth boxing has become more readily available to young people throughout Chicago. The Chicago Park District offers various classes and training opportunities for both young people and adults to get involved in the sport. Boxing is great for increasing muscle tone, strength endurance, cardiovascular fitness and self-confidence! To learn more about the Chicago Park District’s boxing programs click here.