COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 26, 2009 — Colorado Springs, Colo., is again playing host to America’s largest Olympic-style multi-sport festival for amateur athletes when 10,000 athletes come to the city for the 2009 State Games of America, July 30-August 2. Women’s gymnastics is one of 29 sports featured in the State Games of America. Athletes and coaches may go online now for information and to register at www.thesportscorp.org.
Held at the Cadet West Gym at the U.S. Air Force Academy, women’s gymnastics features competition in Levels 4 through 10, following USA Gymnastics guidelines. All athletes will automatically be entered in the all-around competition. Event and all-around medals will be awarded, but there will not be a separate all-around competition. Ties will be broken according to USA Gymnastics Rules and Policies. Medals will be awarded in each event for 1st – 3rd place in each age group. Age breakdowns within levels will be determined after entries are received.
When registering, please indicate coach and contact information and club name or high school in the sport-specific section of the registration form. Coaches must be safety certified in order to be allowed on the floor. Registration closes June 1 for non-Colorado-based athletes and July 18 for Colorado residents. Online national athlete registration is open www.stategames.org; just click on the State Games of America logo for complete registration information, lodging and accommodations information, ticket details and much more.
The State Games of America features competition for elite, junior, senior, recreational athletes in 29 sports. The colorful Opening Ceremony is set for at the Colorado Springs World Arena on July 30. Major sport venues include the United States Air Force Academy, the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Fort Carson, and The Colorado College.
The State Games of America is the premier, national multi-sport event for athletes of all ages and abilities held every biennium. Medal winners from 49 state games nationwide earn the right to compete against other winners and match their skills and competitive desire in a national arena.
The State Games concept was developed in New York in 1978 with the Empire State Games. In 2006, more than 500,000 athletes competed in State Games nationwide. State 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.
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. 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. It’s estimated that approximately 20% of athletes on recent U.S. Olympic Teams have competed in a state games.