Saturday, August 9, 2014  will see the 24th Annual Harriet Tubman Games take place at Esther Shriner Stadium at 5720 Bathurst Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The games are named after Harriet Tubman, a one-time enslaved woman who resided in the United States. She helped to organize the Underground Railroad and was one of the lead freedom fighters who brought the first American immigrants to Canada.

The games have participants as young as 4 years old up to 80 years. Hence, this is one of Toronto's only multi-generation event on the Track and Field Calendar.

Registration Fees for Family and community teams are reasonable with single participant entry fees as low as $5.00.

2014 features the first ever We Run 4 Harriet 5K event at 9 a.m. (Visit www.werun4.com)

The official games will open at 10 a.m. with Flags and Colours of the Culture.

History

The games were founded by leaders of the Black Community of the day in the early 1970s.

Over the years, the event has ebbed and flowed in size and scope in number of youth participants and number of track events In smaller venues. This year, 2014, the games have returned to being played in a proper track and field stadium.

Over the years, athletes initially from around Ontario and then from across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean have regularly registered and participated in the Games.

Organizing and Planning for the 25th annual Harriet Tubman Games in 2015 is already underway, because of the overlap with the Pan Am Games.