ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994                   TAG: 9405190165
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GAMES ADD NEW COMPETITIONS

The Commonwealth Games of Virginia has grown a bit for its fifth session this July, but Pete Lampman says the Games might take a breather in coming years.

"Eventually you're going to reach to a point where you can't do but so many sports," said Lampman, president of Games' producer Virginia Amateur Sports. "We're close to peaking out."

This year's edition features 41 competitions in 37 sports, including new additions indoor rock climbing, summer biathlon and open martial arts, mostly at Roanoke Valley sites. The Games' main weekend is July 15-17, with some sports scheduled for July 9, 10, 18, 19, 23 and 24.

Rock climbing is scheduled to be held at the Roanoke Parks and Recreation building on Reserve Ave. The "rock" is a plywood wall with plastic obstacles bolted on. Open martial arts, Lampman said, includes disciplines such as tae kwon do and jujitsu that haven't been included in the karate and judo competitions during previous Games. Lampman said shooting co-coordinator Bob Tully will oversee the summer biathlon, which combines running and rifle shooting.

VAS will hold a news conference today to update the Games. Changes include:

nSwimming, one of the Games' most popular sports, is back in Roanoke at the Gator Aquatic Center after being held in Waynesboro last year. Instead of a level A-B-C meet, Lampman said, it will be a B-C-recreational swimmer event "to increase participation as much as anything."

nMountain biking will be the only competition that awards something in addition to the Games' gold, silver and bronze medals - in this case, an estimated $5,000 in merchandise. That's contrary to the Games' billing as an "amateur sports festival," but Lampman said the Games have "piggy-backed" onto an existing race that has its own awards. "I don't think it's a major issue, as long as it's not cash involved," Lampman said.

nFund-raising is a little behind last year's pace, Lampman said, but the Games should at least break even this year. Roanoke County did pitch in an extra $5,000 over last year's contribution.

nHampden-Sydney basketball coach Tony Shaver and Harry Pincus Jr. of Virginia Beach have joined VAS' 16-member board of directors. Pincus is involved on a national level with volleyball. 


 by CNB