Registration opens for State Games of the West in Colorado Springs

Online registration for amateur athletes is now open at www.stategamesofthewest.org for the inaugural State Games of the West, July 24-27, in Colorado Springs.

About 8,000 competitors of all ages and skill levels from 13 Western states are expected to participate in the event, which offers 31 sports.

The State Games of the West, which is being hosted by the Colorado Springs Sports Corp., is open to all State Games athletes from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. All participants are eligible by competing in their local State Games during 2008 regardless of their placement.

Wyoming athletes will be welcome even though the Cowboy State Games ceased operations after last summer.

Athletes will compete at 24 venues including the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado College, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Fort Carson. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 24 at the Colorado Springs World Arena.

The state's annual Rocky Mountain State Games for Colorado athletes will be folded into the State Games of the West, as they were during 2005 and 2007 when the city hosted the national State Games of America.

A record 10,803 athletes from 47 states participated in the 2007 State Games of America in Colorado Springs, with an economic impact of some $11 million, and the event returns to the city in 2009. It now ranks as the largest multi-sport event in Colorado history.

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