2009 State Games of America National Registration Open ; 10,000 Athletes Expected In Colorado Springs For America's Largest Multi-Sport Festival For All Ages And Skill Levels

Colorado Springs, January 14---Colorado Springs will host America’s largest national multi-sport festival for amateur athletes of all ages and skill levels when 10,000 athletes come to the city for the 2009 State Games of America, July 30-August 2.

Online national athlete registration is now open at www.stategames.org with complete registration information, lodging and accommodations information, ticket details and much more.  Medal winners from all State Games and all Colorado residents are eligible to participate. 

The State Games of America is a property of the National Congress of State Games, and the event is hosted by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.  

Elite, junior, senior, recreational athletes and Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls of the future will compete for coveted medals in 31 sports at 22 venues on the program of the national event staged in the city which is the home of the United States Olympic Committee and some 50 national and international sports organizations and National Governing Bodies.

New to the program this year are the popular BMX and Rock-Climbing disciplines.

The event was held in Colorado Springs in 2005 and 2007. A record 10,803 athletes from 47 states competed in the event in 2007 in Colorado Springs. San Diego will host the Games in 2011 , and previous host cites are Hartford, CT and St. Louis, MO. 

The Games offer a sport for almost any amateur athlete in the United States in the Games, no matter their age, skills, or ultimate dream. It’s estimated that as much as 20% of athletes on recent U.S. Olympic Teams have competed in a state games.

The colorful Opening Ceremony is set for at the Colorado Springs World Arena on July 30. A venue record 10,007 spectators watched the Opening Ceremony in 2007 in the Arena with Olympic figure skating medalist and World Champion Michelle Kwan lighting the official flame to open the Games. A famous celebrity Olympic athlete will be announced soon for this important role.

Other major sport venues include the United States Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Fort Carson, The Colorado College, and Memorial Park. 

                                                      

                                                                Sports for the 2009 State Games of America (31)

 

·        5K Run/Walk

·        Flag Football

·        Soccer

·        Archery

·        Golf

·        Softball 

·        Badminton

·        Gymnastics

·        Swimming

·        Basketball

·        Inline Hockey

·        Table Tennis

·        Billiards

·        Judo

·        Tennis

·        BMX

·        Karate

·        Track & Field

·        Bowling

·        Powerlifting

·        Triathlon

·        Cycling

·        Racquetball

·        Volleyball

·        Diving

·        Rock Climbing

·        Weightlifting

·        Field Hockey

·        Shooting

·        Wrestling

·        Figure Skating

 

 
 
Some 1,000 competitors are expected for the popular Figure Skating events, which will take place at the Colorado Springs World Arena, a venue that has hosted Skate America and other major skating competitions in a city with a rich tradition in the sport.

The Sports Corp anticipates roughly 6,000-7,000 athletes from more than 120 cities and towns in Colorado to enter the Games, with strong participation again from states including Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming, which entered large numbers in 2007.

The 2007 State Games of America brought the city more than $11 million in economic impact from an estimated 28,900 athletes, family members, friends, coaches, officials and volunteers who journeyed throughout the city and to its venues, with the events attracting some 78,000 spectators.

The State Games concept was developed in New York in 1978 with the Empire State Games. In 2008, more than 400,000 athletes competed in State Games nationwide. The Games feature various sports of the Olympic and Pan American Games as well as sports that have regional popularity within each state.

Prominent State Games athletes include Olympians and others: Jeff Blatnick, Ralph Boston, Tracy Caulkins, Calbert Cheaney, Curt Clausen, Diane Dixon, Tom Dolan, Suzy Favor-Hamilton, Dan Gable, Rowdy Gaines, Harvey Glance, Nicole Haislett, Nancy Hogshead, Roy Jones, Adonis Jordan, Nancy Kerrigan, Rusty LaRue, Danny Manning, Henry Marsh, Eric Montross, Chris Mullin, Tab Ramos, Glenn Robinson, Alberto Salazar, Doug Smith, Rex Walters, Lones Wigger, Jr. and Paul Wylie.