Show-Me State Games Brings Olympic Spirit to Missouri

Columbia, MO, May 11, 2012 --(PR.com)-- While thousands of athletes and spectators from across the world will travel to London for the 2012 Olympic Games this summer, Missourians have an option much closer to home to experience the Olympic spirit: The Show-Me State Games.

The Show-Me State Games is Missouri’s Olympic-style sports festival, offering more than 40 sporting events for all ages and ability levels. The 2012 Games are scheduled for June 8-10, July 20-22 and July 27-29 in Columbia, MO. An Opening Ceremonies for the Show-Me State Games will be on July 20 at the Hearnes Center and will feature a parade of athletes and lighting of the cauldron.

This is the twenty-eighth annual Show-Me State Games, and is the largest event of its kind in the nation. In 2011, 26,927 athletes competed in the event. The Games awards gold, silver and bronze medals to its first, second and third place finishers. Thousands of spectators and hundreds of volunteers also attend the Show-Me State Games.

“Whether participating as an athlete, spectator or volunteer, the Show-Me State Games is a great opportunity to get involved in Missouri’s very own Olympic-style sporting event,” said Emily Lorenz, marketing coordinator for the Show-Me State Games.

This year the Show-Me State Games is also hosting the eighteenth annual Missouri State Senior Games for athletes age 50 and older. The event is scheduled for June 8-10 also in Columbia, Mo. and offers more than 20 sporting events. The 2012 Missouri State Senior Games are a qualifying event for the 2013 National Senior Games, to be contested in Cleveland from July 21 - Aug. 5, 2013.

For a complete schedule of events and more details about the Show-Me State Games, visit www.smsg.org. To schedule an interview about this year’s games, please contact Emily Lorenz at 573-882-2105.

The Show-Me State Games was established in 1985 as a non-profit program of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Health. Now the largest state games in the nation, the Show-Me State Games is hosted by the University of Missouri. In addition to the summer games, the Show-Me State Games offers events throughout the year to promote health, fitness, family and fun. The Show-Me State Games generates $15 million in economic impact annually in Columbia.