CityWalk Festival Salutes Olympians

Although no starting gun was fired, the first Olympic Street Festival at Universal CityWalk began Friday with a figurative bang--including a song, inspiring words from city dignitaries, a torch-lighting ceremony with former Olympian Mark Spitz and a release of doves.

The weekend-long event is billed as a multimedia celebration of Olympians past, present and future.

The emphasis is on future, judging from the opening ceremony, which was attended by 400 students from the stay-in-school program Cities in Schools.

Addressing the youngsters, Olympic marathon runner Alberto Salazar emphasized school first and sports second.

“I’m challenging all of you to study hard, get an education . . . and go to college,” he said.

Beatrice Esqueda, 16, a student at San Fernando High School, said the opening ceremonies were inspiring.

“Seeing the athletes makes me want to get out there and do something: stay in school, go to college,” she said.

The event, free and open to the public, is from noon to 6 p.m. today and Sunday.