PBS Kids Sprout celebrates "Good Sport Week"

PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers will celebrate "Good Sport Week” on the live Sunny Side Up Show each morning from 9 a.m. to noon ET the week of August 11. Special guests Michael Weiss, Christa Mereen, Judy Kahn and Annie McLaughlin will appear in various segments to share concepts of inclusion, participation, persistence and being a good sport with Sprout's preschool audience.

Proving that all things are possible and even the most far-reaching goals can be achieved, three-time U.S. Champion, two-time World bronze medalist and two-time Olympian figure skater Michael Weiss will take Chica the Chicken, the puppet sidekick from Sprout's The Sunny Side Up Show, out on the ice for her debut skating lesson at the rink where he received his very first medal.

"A national champion teaching a chicken to ice skate is just priceless,” said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of programming. "You have to see it to believe it.”

He continued, "But along with all the fun and laughs, Sprout is sharing some very valuable lessons for our preschool audience about the importance of trying your hardest, not giving up and being a good sport.”

Michael Weiss has been skating since he was nine years old, and his charisma and passion for the sport have made him a fan favorite worldwide. Honored as one of the 1999 Fathers of the Year by the National Fatherhood Initiative, Weiss has also been very involved in helping young skaters develop their own talents. To date, the Michael Weiss Foundation (MWF) has raised over $100,000 for deserving applicants who possess Olympic potential in the sport of figure skating.

Also participating in "Good Sport Week” is Special Olympian Christa Mereen, jump roper Judy Khan and field hockey player Annie McLaughlin, who will join The Sunny Side Up Show host Kevin Yamada and Chica the Chicken live in the studio.

Mereen, a Special Olympics Global Messenger who has been involved in year-round training for the past seven years for softball, track and field, bowling, floor hockey and bocce, will share experiences about developing her athletic skills, stories about healthy competition and tips on the importance of being a good sport, while Khan and McLaughlin will share video highlights, sport equipment and ribbons showcasing how persistence, hard work and focus helped them to become champion Junior Olympians.

For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules, visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.866.9.SPROUT.