1996 Olympic Games: the kid connection.

Going for Olympic gold is a challenge reserved for talented grown-up athletes. But even kids can get a piece of the Olympic action at this year's games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carrying the Torch

Winning the right to be one of 10,000 torchbearers in the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay wasn't easy for Atlanta twelve-year-olds Taylor Coles and Brandi Burton.

United Way officials weren't looking for ordinary runners to sprint each half-mile section from Los Angeles, California, to Atlanta. They were searching for heroes. Months of devoted volunteer work proved that Taylor and Brandi were up to the challenge.

Taylor is no stranger to challenge. A learning disability made it difficult for him to do schoolwork as a younger boy. But Taylor is proud of the effort and determination that helped him beat the odds. He wants to share his strength with other kids. "I volunteer," Taylor says. "I like being a role model." In 1995, he participated in a walk-a-thon to help raise money for kids with AIDS. He even created a fundraiser to help the homeless.

"I sold mistletoe, 77 says Taylor. "I knocked on doors and said, 'Kiss up for kids,' and people gave me money. Cool, huh?"

United Way believed Brandi's helpful spirit set her apart. Cheerleading for young athletes at her school matters to Brandi, but signing stories for hearing-impaired kids matters more. She learned the special language so she could volunteer at school.

Brandi says about being a torchbearer, "I'm real honored. They say I'm a community hero for doing things that I thought were just nice for people. But I didn't do them to be a hero. I like to help people. It makes me feel good about myself "

Taylor and Brandi - two of the youngest torchbearers - will run their half-miles near the end of the nationwide torch relay.

Drawing the Games

People say lightning never strikes the same spot twice, but they'll never convince twelve-year-old Brandon Smith that it's true. His Olympic artwork - judged on originality, creativity, and artistic ability - impressed VISA Art Challenge representatives so much in 1994 that they awarded the California student and his mother a trip to the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

When Brandon heard about the international 1996 Art Challenge, he didn't think he had a chance. "I figured even if they liked my picture, once they saw my name, they wouldn't choose me." But he decided to enter, anyway.

After four hours at his desk, Brandon had created a new Olympic sport - a cross between BMX dirt bike competition (Brandon is a California state BMX champion himself and snow skiing.

Brandon says, "I made a cycle with skis and no motor, because it's for the Olympics. If there was a motor, athletes wouldn't have to be in good shape to compete. This way, they have to be in top condition."

Brandon's efforts paid off. He and his father are going to the Olympic games in Atlanta. "I learned something," Brandon admits. "I learned if you go for it, you just never know what will happen."

Davida Merlis, twelve, couldn't agree more. When she entered her scuba racing drawing, she was following in her sister Rachelle's artistic footsteps.

"She won two years ago," Davida says, "so I thought if they looked at my name, wouldn't have a chance." Davida worked hard, though, to create a winning entry.

"It was hard to come up with an idea until I saw oceanographer Jacques Cousteau on television, 37 says Davida. "He was saying that someday soon, people would be living under the ocean and working there. So I drew and wrote about scuba racing."

Naming a Mascot

He's big. He's blue. And he's as real as any giant animated creature can be. But the mascot for the 1996 Olympic Games didn't have a name back in 1992.

That was when he was introduced at the Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain. Officials called him "Whatizit" until kids from around the world could join together to name him.

Young people were invited to help in June 1993. By the end of July, thousands of suggestions had poured into Atlanta's Olympic headquarters.

Officials were thrilled, but then they had to find someone to select one of the names. They formed a kids' advisory council of thirty-two Atlanta children. After several days of studying the selection of names, "Izzy" was born.

Working the Games

Without the dedication of ball boys and girls, many Olympic events such as baseball, sand volleyball, soccer, and tennis might not go so smoothly.

Imagine, for example, how difficult it would be to play Olympic-quality tennis without the efforts of energetic ball kids. Tennis balls would be all over the court!

Georgia's Southern Tennis Association helped recruit volunteers to sprint across the courts to retrieve stray balls. "We tested applicants on speed, throwing ability, and following directions," says STA representative John Scheffield. Of the 500 kids who tried out, only 140 actually made it to the Olympic events. Thirteen-year-old Matthew Borasch was one of the lucky ones.

"The hardest part was the throwing," he admits. "I can't throw. But I guess I did OK." Perhaps it was experience that dazzled the Olympic judges. Matthew has retrieved balls for several tennis events, including the Outdoor Invitation air Championships.

Matthew Knows his job at the Olympics will be a whole new challenge, but he's up for it. "I'm really looking forward to it, because it's all really fun!"