THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606230203
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 90 lines
Local Olympic hopefuls are not the only area athletes vying for gold, silver and bronze medals this summer.
The 8th annual Virginia State Games make their second stop in Hampton Roads next weekend with three days of Olympic-style competition. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at the 24th Street Park on the Oceanfront.
``With this being an Olympic year, this has people focused on the Olympic style of competing,'' Jeff Sias, director of the State Games.
With 34 sports ranging from baseball to jump rope, organizers expect the games to draw around 5,000 competitors.
Two years ago, the games drew 4,500 athletes to Hampton Roads. Since then, organizers have agreed to have Hampton Roads host the games during even-numbered years with Richmond serving as the host in odd-numbered years.
The top three competitors in each division of every sport will receive a medal. While some sports will offer more medals than finalists, others such as track and field will be much more competitive, Sias said.
``We've been marketing track andfield to a lot of local schools, coaches and track clubs and have gotten numerous calls from Northern Virginia,'' Sias said.
The track and field events, scheduled for Hampton University, will start at 9 a.m. Saturday.
There are 15 events scheduled with up to 18 different classifications.
Events will be held at seventeen sites throughout Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton. Diving will take place at the University of Richmond.
``The events are all free and open to the public if they want to attend,'' Sias said. ``One place they can get a lot of flavor for different events is the Pavilion.''
Saturday and Sunday, the Pavilion will host six events, including karate, fencing and wrestling.
Managed by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce sports' promotion task force, the games are beneficial to the area, Sias said, for two reasons: competition and economics.
``It brings people to hotels, restaurants and shopping,'' Sias said. ``Amateur sports are a $50 billion a year industry.''
In Virginia, for instance, there are two sets of games.
Next month, Roanoke hosts the 7th annual Commonwealth Games.
Though a year younger than the State Games, the Commonwealth Games expect 9,000 competitors for its 44 events.
``The state is big enough for two sets of games,'' Sias said. ``I think it's a very positive thing the state does for its residents.'' MEMO: AT A GLANCE
GENERAL INFORMATION
What: Virginia State Games
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Various sites throughout Hampton Roads
Cost: Entry fees are $5 per athlete, per event. All events free to
spectators.
For more info call: Jeff Sias, 664-2522.
EVENT CONTACTS
Baseball: Towny Townsend, 482-4414
Basketball: Director Jeff Sias, 664-2522
Beach Volleyball: Mike Vanderslice, 498-5052
Boomerang: John Koehler, 437-1185
Bowling: Mary Pancoast, 930-1346
Catamaran sailing: Chris Merrell, 422-0988
Darts: Lisa Rectenbaugh, 471-5746
Fencing: Jeff Knutson, 444-4812
Field hockey: Debbie Lowrance, 495-9036
Ice hockey: Iceland, 490-3907
Ice skating: Iceland, 490-3907
Judo: Victor Winborn, 631-1024
Jump Rope: Director Jeff Sias, 664-2522
Karate: Dan Montgomery, 473-9553
Paintball: David Hutcherson, 422-5606
Powerlifting: Eugene McCulloch, 890-0465
Racewalk: Paul Cajka, 497-1071, ext. 718
Roller hockey: Dana Chaput, 460-1138
Rugby: Jeffery Anderson, 579-4109
Running 5k: Monty Williams, 445-2190
Soccer, adult men's: Dave Randolph, 427-2040
Soccer, adult women's: Marti Bevan, 627-3240
Swimming: Gary Rivera, 495-0682
Synch. swiming: Barbara Eaton, 463-1333
Surfing: Pat Clark, 428-2241
Tae kwon do: Doug Baldwin, 460-9575
Tennis: Karen Steenburg, 481-7545, ext. 7
Track & field: VSG office, 664-2522
Windsurfing: Marcus Wells, 874-0848
Wrestling: Mike Cochran, 496-6770
For more event info: Jeff Sias, 664-2522 by CNB