By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
April 22, 2002
Now is the time to get those entries filled out and turned in for the 2002 Mississippi State Games.
The Games, Mississippi's premier amateur sporting event is set to begin June 14 in Meridian. Athletes will be able to compete in 28 sports this year.
The 11th State Games of Mississippi are a part of the Olympic Festival movement. It is designed for amateur athletes of all ages and skills. Last June, more than 4,200 athletes participated in sports throughout the Meridian area.
Rush Foundation Hospital is once again the primary sponsor for the State Games. April Luke, executive director for the Games, is looking forward another great event.
Two new sports will join the festival and one more will be making a comeback. Athletic registration created a demand for Table Tennis and Taekwando. Making its return to the State Games will be water skiing which will be held at Dream Lake. Wake Boarding will also be included in the competition.
The State Games will be divided into three seperate weekends June 14-16 and June 20-23. The first weekend will have archery, adult basketball, bowling, mule and donkey, powerlifting, youth soccer, softball, stickball and youth swimming, table tennis, track and field, two-man volleyball and water skiing.
Sports set for June 20-23 will be: high school baseball, high school basketball, canoe/kayak; cycling-road race, dressage, fencing, 5-K road race, mountain bike race, adult soccer, masters swimming, adult and youth tennis and four-man volleyball.
On June 1-2, sailing taekwondo and summer biathlon will be held along with three Youth soccer district playoffs.
The state games are open to amateurs who are Mississippi residents for at least 30 days of competition. Participants have ranged in age from 4 to 92 and have hailed from 292 communities in the state.