
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992                   TAG: 9203280069
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLYNE H. McWILLIAMS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE FIGHTS FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES

"There's a cloud in the sky," J. Richard Wells said - "the political struggle for these games."

Wells, president of the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, and local government representatives on Friday signed a resolution of support for keeping the annual Commonwealth Games of Virginia in the Roanoke Valley.

Roanoke Mayor Noel Taylor said the resolution asks state legislators to back keeping the games in the valley instead of moving them to Tidewater or Richmond. He said he was impressed with the volunteerism and the way people have worked together during the games.

The games, run by Virginia Amateur Sports, started in the valley in 1990. With the talk of merging Richmond-based Sports Virginia Inc., which has its own games, with the Commonwealth Games, they could be moved to Richmond.

CorEast Federal Savings Bank, which had offices in Roanoke and Richmond, initially was a major sponsor of the games in Roanoke. When federal officials seized CorEast, that sponsorship ceased.

Salem Councilman Howard Packett said the games are an opportunity "to bring some continuity and tourism to the valley."

In 1990 the games brought $2.6 million into the Roanoke area, the supporters claim. Last year that number catapulted to $4.1 million and the games are projected to bring in nearly $5 million this year, they said.

by CNB