Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507100057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This year, the Games will attract more athletes, will feature more sports and will cost more money than ever.
The sixth annual Games probably will attract a record 9,000 participants this weekend and next. Some of the events were scheduled for this weekend in the Roanoke Valley, with most of the competition slated to begin Friday and run through Sunday.
Organizers from Virginia Amateur Sports, the Roanoke-based organization that runs the Games, said last month they expected as many as 9,500 athletes to participate in more than 40 sports during the Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport festival that attracts amateurs from across the state. The Commonwealth Games of Virginia are recognized by the National Congress of State Games as Virginia's official state games.
``Nine thousand [participants] is a real good number for us,'' said Stuart Israel, director of development and marketing for VAS. ``Our registrations are up almost across the board.''
As the Games have grown, so have VAS' expenses. This year's VAS budget is around $425,000, which is about $85,000 more than VAS spent last year.
``The big thing is making sure you find enough sponsors, have enough housing available and get enough volunteers,'' said Pete Lampman, VAS president.
Lampman said VAS will be looking for a title sponsor for future Games. In 1990, the first year the Games were held, CorEast Bank sponsored the Roanoke state games.
VAS is looking for a sponsor because it is unclear how much money it will be receiving from the state government in the future. This year, VAS gets $75,000 from the state and $75,000 from local government. But, during a climate of state budget cutbacks, Lampman doesn't know what to expect from the government.
``I think [the money from the state] will stay about the same,'' Lampman said. ``Being the official state games helps.''
This year, the Commonwealth Games will draw approximately 1,000 more athletes than in 1994. The event has more than doubled in size since its first year, when the Games drew 4,465 athletes for 29 sports.
Israel said a record 113 girls' and boys' basketball teams have signed up for the Games. Nearly 2,000 softball players representing 150 teams are also slated to compete.
Some of the Games' new sports have attracted impressive numbers, Israel said. Roller hockey, which is making its Commonwealth Games debut in Lynchburg next weekend, will feature approximately 15 teams and 200 players.
Other new events this year include girls' lacrosse and equestrian competition. Ballroom dancing, which Lampman expects to be an Olympic sport in 2000, will be an exhibition sport at the Commonwealth Games.
Some of the sports that have seen a drop in participation include judo and wrestling. Israel expected some late signups would boost the numbers in both events.
``We do have some [events] that are down [in numbers] right now,'' Israel said. ``We don't know why that is, but it's not unusual to see a drop in some sports. Most of the sports that are down are down just a little.''
The Opening Ceremonies for this year's Games will be Friday at 8 p.m. at Victory Stadium.
Roanoke native George Lynch, a former college basketball player at North Carolina who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, will be the featured celebrity at the Opening Ceremonies.
by CNB