so kids could play in a program offered by Legg Mason. District Mayor Anthony Williams had issued a proclamation, which states,

“Now, Therefore, I the Mayor of the District of Columbia, do herby proclaim, July 29, 2006, as ‘Les Halles Cup Day.

The street in front of Les Halles Restaurant at 12 th & Penn. N.W, .then became make shift tennis courts, and 32 players, 16 boys and 16 girls, participated in the tennis championship, for youths ages 14 and under, as part of the Legg Mason weekend activities.

Youth arrived from throughout the Washington area.

“I live in Alexandria Virginia, and brought my kids to D.C. to have some fun, so we decided to stop and take part in the tennis activities,” said David Goldstein, who has played tennis 30 years.

His sons, Brennan, 8, and Evan, 5, quickly got involved in the activities playing with some of the players.

Kids Day is usually part of the activities at the tennis center at 16 th and Kennedy. Philippe’ LaJannie, owner of the Les Halles restaurant said, “It is not easy to close the main street in the Nations Capital to play tennis but thanks for the help of the Mayor’s Office we are the first to be given that privilege.”

After the tennis activities, the 32 boys and girls were invited into Les Halles for dinner. The suspense was building while the kids ate, the main reason they were downtown was for the drawing to select the players and opponents to play during the week as part of the Legg Mason Tournament.

LaJannie, before conducting the draw, reminded the kids how lucky they were for taking part in the tournament. For every game they won during the week they would receive a prize. Some would even get the opportunity to warm up with the professional players taking part in the tournament, and the champion, at the end of the week, win an all expense paid trip to the Miami for the World Wide International Tennis Tournament for 14-and-under players at the end of the year.

Before they left, each player was given a bag of gifts from the sponsors.

“Becoming a good tennis player is one way of not only winning trophies but it opens the door to scholarships from your favorite University,” said, Michael Akin of George Washington University, Director of Government, International and Corporate Affairs.

Parents had their eyes on short-term goals and long-rang gains.

Alvin Fludd, from S E Washington D.C. brought his two sons, Alvin Jr., 14, and Delante,10, hoping to win the grand prize. Alvin won the D.C. Mall Tournament in May, and was expected to do very well. His brother Delante is being groomed so by the time he is 14 he would be ready to win.

Tournament organizers aim is to have “Kids Day” grow larger each year and attract as many boys and girls to participate in the week’s activities. The youngest participant is Alana Lewis, 4, of Upper North West D.C. Jimmy Johnson, her dad said, “I would like my daughter to be exposed at competitive tennis as early as possible.”

Legg Masons Helps Kids Appreciate Tennis