State Games returns to San Diego

The 17th annual California State Games, a grassroots program of the United States Olympic Committee, will take place July 14-17 at various venues throughout San Diego County. More than 7,000 athletes of all ages are expected to participate in more than 20 sports ranging from archery to basketball, from gymnastics to skateboarding, from soccer to water polo.

This year’s event is expected to draw more than 25,000 spectators. Opening ceremonies are Friday, July 15 at Qualcomm Stadium with a parade of athletes, torch run lighting and fireworks scheduled.

"We feel 2005 will no doubt be our largest event ever. We truly believe our event offers something for all of California’s youth," said Sandi Hill, who serves as executive director of the California State Games.

Hill said the event has experienced tremendous growth. She said the number of participating athletes is expected to reach 10,000 within the next three years with a state wide exposure to 10 million people.

The California State Games gives many young athletes, in particular, the opportunity to compete in Olympic-style sports. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each sport.

South County venues include the U.S. Olympic Training Center-Chula Vista (archery), skateboarding (Len Moore Skate Park at the Chula Vista Boys and Girls Club) and Imperial Beach pier (junior lifeguards).

Archery will take place July 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature both adult and youth divisions in Olympic bow and compound bow events. Youth age divisions include 17-and-under (Junior), 15 and 16 (Cadet), 13 and 14 (Cub) and 12-and-under (Bowman).

Skateboarding will be held at two venues. Mini-ramp (July 16) and streetstyle (July 17) will be held at the Chula Vista Boys and Girls Club site; vertical ramp (July 16) and pool riding (July 16) will take place at the Mission Valley YMCA. Competition at the Chula Vista site starts at 8 a.m. both days while competition at the Mission Valley venue starts at 1 p.m.

The popular junior lifeguards competition will kick of this year’s State Games on Thursday, July 14, with activities on the south side of the pier starting at 9 a.m. Events include a distance run, run relay, distance swim, swim relay, distance paddle, paddle relay, run-swim-run, rescue relay and beach flags competition.

The junior lifeguards event is open to anyone associated with the California Surf Lifesaving Association. Age divisions include 9-11 (C Division), 12-13 (B Division), 14-15 (A Division) and 16-17 (AA Division).

Other venues across the county include badminton (Balboa Park Activities Gym, July 15 -17); baseball (Poway Sportsplex and Fallbrook, Monte Vista and Grossmont high schools, July 16-17); basketball (Alliant University and Balboa Park’s Municipal Gym, July 15-17); goaltimate (Westview Park, July 16-17); Gymnastics (Clairemont High School, July 15); soccer (Mira Mesa Recreation Center and Waggenheim School, July 15-17); softball (Miramar College, Canyonside Recreation Center and Kit Carson Park, July 15-17); surfing (Camp Pendleton’s Del Mar jetty (July 17); swimming (La Jolla High School, July 16); synchronized swimming (Allied Gardens pool, July 17); table tennis (Balboa Park Activities Center, July 16-17); taekwondo (USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion, July 16); youth track and field (Westview High School, July 15-16); water polo (Miramar College, July 15-17); weightlifting (Town & Country Hotel, July 16) and wrestling (Coronado High School, July 16-17).

The wrestling competition will feature high school teams on July 16 and kids freestyle competition on July 17. Chula Vista resident Frank Unpingco is serving as the tournament director this year after taking over from former directors John and Dale Siscon, who re-established the sport in the State Games lineup.

For more information on the California State Games, visit the Web site at www.calstategames. org.