1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: Scarlett Film and joining us now is Cheryl Tucson. She's 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: a former Olympic silver medalist. She is also the director 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: of Colgate Women's Games, which is the nation's longest running 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: track and field series for women and girls. Cheryl, welcome 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. Thank you for having me. 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: So tell us a little bit about the Colgate Women's Games. 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: The forty eighth game is coming up and there's a 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: lot of excitement around it. Tell us what we need 11 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: to know. So well, I'm glad you started here. So 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: March EIGHTI through April we pick off our season for 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: this year. The Colgate Women's Games is a has been 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: going on for forty eight years. This season and we're 15 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: happy that we're starting an outdoor series this year, or 16 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: actually our second outdoor series this year, and it'll be 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: taking place at Queen's College in New York and the 18 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: culmination will happen on May seventh at Icon Stadium. So 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: it's a free event, no no cost to participate, no 20 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: cost to attend. So we welcome all of your listeners 21 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: to take to come out and join us. Oh, Charlot's 22 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: more than that, right, It's the largest amateur track and 23 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: field meet in the country. I'm talking elementary school through college. 24 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: I believe Colgate Palmala has been the sponsor since the 25 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: beginning of time. And my question for you is, look, 26 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: you know, we all know your history, you know, going 27 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: back to the nineteen seventy two Summer Olympics and your 28 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: involvement at Adams Track Club and Fred Thompson, your mentor. 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: I mean, can you talk to us about what you 30 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: know Fred imparted to you and how that's kind of 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: gotten you involved with this particular event, and you know 32 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: just basically what it means for you and what it 33 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: means for you know, women across the country who are 34 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: basically in track and field and looking to make their mark. 35 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: Absolutely so. I started out as a thirteen year old 36 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: with Fred and the Adams Track Club and at that 37 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: point I didn't have any particular focus as far as 38 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: being involved in athletics or actually nor was I focused 39 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: so much on the academic part of you know, being 40 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: involved with the team, which which was the team focused. 41 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Athletics was what we did. But the goal and goal 42 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: was to get an education. So when Fred started this 43 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: team in our community, it was really important for girls 44 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: who joined the team to understand that the end goal 45 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: was education. So for me it was very important because 46 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: it helped me to refocus, rededicate my energies not just 47 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: on the track, but also to getting good grades and 48 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: looking beyond where I was in school. And at that time, 49 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: there was so few scholarship opportunities for girls, this was 50 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: before Title nine, that the idea of going to college 51 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,959 Speaker 1: was not a reality for me. So Fred his vision 52 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: was really important for all of us who were part 53 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: of that organization. And then Fred eventually collaborated with kog 54 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: pau Mala company. They saw his vision in what he 55 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: was doing by getting young people in general, but the 56 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: girls who were on the club to understand that education, 57 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: that athletics was a means to an end, a means 58 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: to getting a better education, having a bright future, which 59 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: was and is in fact Colgate's primary mission as a 60 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: company to reimagine a healthy and brighter future for all people. 61 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: So it aligned quite well and that was the beginning 62 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: of me being able to see college as an end goal. 63 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: The co Gate Women's the co Gate Women's Games is 64 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: a program, a developmental series that starts young girls from 65 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: the very from first grade all the way through college 66 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: and beyond. And what that does is give them based 67 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: you know, depending upon their grade, and opportunity to learn 68 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,239 Speaker 1: how to compete, to learn how to lead. Of course, 69 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: they developed tons of self discipline and you know, confidence 70 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: and self esteem, but it teaches them how to lead, 71 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: and that's that's that's the beginning of a brighter future 72 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: for anything that we do. And your living proof of that, 73 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: you pursued a degree in higher education, became the first 74 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: in your immediate family to earn a college degree as 75 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: a result of your involvement. Talk a little bit about 76 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: any partnerships um that the event has with higher education 77 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: institutions to formalize this pipeline for young women to participate 78 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: in track and field. So most of the students come 79 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: from the New York City Public school system, but our 80 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: reach goes beyond that mean the New York metropolitan area, 81 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: Tri state area, of course, but we have participants that 82 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: attended games from up and down the East Coast, so 83 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: to speak, and the New York City Public school system 84 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: we are actually you know, aligning with them on how 85 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: we can spread the word about what we do as 86 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: an event. This year, also shot Right Stores has partnered 87 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: with Colgate to help spread the word by doing instore 88 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: promotion and things of that nature to spread the word. 89 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: So the Coogate Pama company has been behind this effort, 90 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: has championed what we're doing with the cool Gate Women's 91 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: Games for forty eight years and sponsored it through scholarship, which, 92 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: by the way, the scholarship values were doubled. Yeah, is 93 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: it really You know, the cost of education is so high. 94 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: But one of the points I would love to make 95 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: is that because we start the girls so early to 96 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:21,239 Speaker 1: get them learning these tremendous disciplines, they are actually, based 97 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: on their overall performance in the competition, eligible to earn 98 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: to win scholarship from first grade, which is unheard of. 99 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: So I mean they can actually start building toward their 100 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: own saving for their own education from as early as 101 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: first grade. And so, talk to us about the event itself, 102 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: I mean, how has it, I mean, how's it evolved? 103 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 1: I mean, from my understanding, it's really become more of 104 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: an incubator for developing athletic talent, many of whom have 105 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: gone on to running the Olympics and whatnot. I mean 106 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: talk to us about, you know, the state of track 107 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: and field for young girls in the United States right now, 108 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: right so the sport itself is tremendous. It's a very 109 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: strategic kind of event and so everyone gets involved with 110 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: it learns to basically be strategic thinkers. You have to 111 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: learn how to lead from the front from the back. 112 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: We have a lot of youth programs. The co GET 113 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: Women's Games covers the gamut from elementary through college and beyond. 114 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: We even have a thirty year category, thirty year and 115 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: above category. But what the COCATE Women's Games is, what 116 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: our strength is is that it is an incubator for 117 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: developing athletic talent. They start in elementary school first grade 118 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: and they compete over a series of years. Actually it's 119 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: a four week competition right now. It used to be six. 120 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: We hope to get back to that. But each week 121 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: they learn how the taker you know, to get out there, 122 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: compete on their own, stand before crowd, separated from their 123 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: family and friends, but chair on by them. And from 124 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: there they learn and develop how to hone their skills 125 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: from the program. Because it is developmental and we go 126 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: from elementary middle school, high school, they actually really learn 127 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: how to become better competitors that are athletes. And we 128 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: have twenty nine to date that have gone on to 129 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: the Olympics. I'm one of them, and hundreds who have 130 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 1: made it to the national level and collegiate level the 131 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: heights of that. And so while most of them do 132 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: not necessarily make the sports headline, they all benefit from 133 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: learning how to discipline themselves, become you know, become better athletes, 134 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: and achieve their own personal goal. They pick up a 135 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: lot of transferable skills sports all of that. Sol As 136 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: we wrap up our conversation, you mentioned that, of course, 137 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: and Damon had talked about how you competed in the 138 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy two Munich Games. Can we expect any CWG 139 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: alums to participate in the twenty twenty four Olympics in Paris? Absolutely? Well, 140 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: there's there are four that competed in the last games, 141 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: in the last Olympic Games, and we do have a 142 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: few collegiate athletes. Now they're not necessarily they're in college, 143 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: so we expect to see a few of them. The 144 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: trials will happen next year, so we'll keep our eye 145 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: out and we'll definitely be happy to I'll be happy 146 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: to return, and you know who they are. You know, 147 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: I just have one question about you know, obviously the 148 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: the the Colgate Women's Games itself and the atmosphere you 149 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: just kind of talked about. You know, it's the first time, 150 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: or maybe it's not the first time, but it offers 151 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: these these these young athletes an opportunity to kind of 152 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: get into that big meat environment, right Like I mean, 153 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: I guess when you're running track and field after school 154 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: and you're going to different high schools, you know, it's 155 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: not the same thing is running in in the co 156 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: Gates Women's Games. My question is how much goes into that? 157 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: You know, is it is it is a lot of money. 158 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: I mean, is it sponsorships? I mean is it you know, 159 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: are you are you charging you know for people to participate? 160 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: Can they just you know get tickets for free? I mean, 161 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: how does it all work? So there's absolutely no fee 162 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: to participate in the co Gate Women's Games, no charge 163 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: to attend the co Gate Women's Games. And in fact, 164 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: the Comala Company has sponsored it for all of these 165 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: years in terms of the event itself and then the 166 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: scholarships edit awards for competitors who earned points. They earn 167 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: points based on their performance, so basically those top performers 168 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: are able to earn scholarships. So when you look at 169 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: the overall cost of participation for the athletes, there is 170 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: no charge. But the athletes do have challenges in terms 171 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: of finding by able space to train. They are also 172 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: exposed to a lot of coaches and mentors at the event, 173 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: so they benefit from being in that space where they 174 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: can find coaches and mentors who can help them along 175 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: with their training and to find space. But the event, 176 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: because we're a series of developmental series and not a 177 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: one and done kind of event, we kind of serve 178 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: as a training ground for a lot of these I 179 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: would say newer athletes who are just coming into the sport, 180 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: just learning that we even exist, to come out and 181 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: train or be a part of the competition week after 182 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: week and find their way find out whether they actually 183 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: want to stay in it to be that great athlete 184 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: or they're just enjoying the part of belonging. So yeah, 185 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: sure we create that they can belong. I love I 186 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: love the mission of the Colgate Women's Games and what 187 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: it strives to accomplish. Really appreciate your joining us to 188 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: give us an overview of it and looking forward to 189 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: seeing what comes out of it. Cheryl Toussant is the 190 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: meat director for the Colgate women Games, but you might 191 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: know her as a former Olympic runner who won silver 192 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: in the four by four hundred meter relay in the 193 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy two Munich Games despite losing fish in the race. Right, 194 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: the best, the best way for folks to your listeners 195 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 1: to find out more about the Colgate Women's Games is 196 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: to go to Colgate Women's Games dot com. Our website 197 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: has everything that would need to know about who we are, 198 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: what we do, how we do it, and how to 199 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: sign up. Fantastic. Thank you so much, Cheryl, Thank you, Cheryl, 200 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: thank you. This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcasts. 201 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: I'm Scarlet Food here with Damien sass Hour. Catch us 202 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, where we explore the world 203 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: of money in sports and we certainly hit on both 204 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: of those ideas today. Also find me on Twitter at 205 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: Scarlet Food and you can catch me on Twitter at 206 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: d saswe you're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from 207 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world.