Residents of Seattle and surrounding communities are invited to play in the Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest, a worldwide “co-opetition” running September 11 through 21, 2013. Opening ceremonies will kick off the Seattle Games on September 11 at Cleveland High School. Afternoon festivities start at 3:00 pm, with an evening program at 6:30 pm.

Over the following 10 days, neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and individuals will organize and participate in games of their choice. Scores will be tallied and displayed online, so “co-opetitors” can track the progress of teams worldwide.

In 2010, Seattle affirmed the Charter for Compassion, and committed to a ten-year Compassionate City campaign, followed two years later by Lake Forest Park. In 2012, the city of Louisville Kentucky challenged Seattle to see which was the most compassionate city. Jon Ramer, co-founder of Compassionate Seattle, rose to the challenge, declaring “Game on,” and the Compassion Games were born. This year, more than a dozen communities around the world are participating.

“The Compassion Games are inspiring and challenging us to create new ways of learning, playing, and serving each other and the world,” said Ramer. “We call them a “co-opetition” because we’re cooperating to compete – we’re competing with each other to create a culture that promotes compassionate action. The Games are a chance to focus attention on all the opportunities and the compassionate actions going on around us every day.”

Participants can choose to do random acts of kindness; sign up to be a Secret Agent of Compassion and receive a daily mission by email; contribute to a service project organized by a business, organization, or neighborhood; or create their own games. Players will record their activities by submitting a quick online report. Results from all participating communities worldwide will be tallied and shown on a Compassion Map online. Details and instructions for participating are at compassiongames.org. An events calendar will identify all gatherings, festivals and opportunities for service during the Games.

“It was Buddha who said, ‘In separateness lies the world’s great misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.’ It is our city’s focus on compassion that makes Seattle a healthy place for all of our people,” said Richard Conlin, Seattle City Councilmember. “From sustaining our parks and natural beauty to ensuring the well-being of our human community, I am pleased to be able to underscore our commitment to a compassionate approach to living. We do this with acts that reflect thinking of the other, not just one’s self. Activities like the Compassion Harvest, a food drive in conjunction with the Compassion Games, are great examples of the actions we can take.”

The opening ceremonies at Cleveland High, MC’d by Evening Magazine host Jim Dever, will feature welcome speeches, music, aerial acts, compassion booths, a food drive, videos produced by What’s Good 206 and Cleveland students co-hosted by executive producer Austin Williams, and breakdancing. The event is free and open to the public (the evening program is first come first served, as seating is limited).

Closing ceremonies will take place September 21 at El Centro de la Raza. Details will be posted to the events calendar as they are finalized.