Show-Me STATE GAMES “Where All Missourian’s Can Become STATE CHAMPIONS!”

Show-Me STATE GAMES
“Where All Missourian’s Can Become STATE CHAMPIONS!”
Since 1985

COLUMBIA, MO – 1985, was a great year for sports in Missouri. The St. Louis Cardinals faced the Kansas City Royals in the I-70 World Series and the first Show-Me STATE GAMES were held in Columbia, MO. As a non-profit program of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health, the SMSG came to life in the form of an Olympic style sports festival to inspire Missourians of all ages and skill levels to develop their physical abilities.

Hosted by the University of Missouri and the City of Columbia, the SMSG had a small start, with only 600 participants, and 9 sports. 1991 saw the SMSG expand from one weekend to two allowing athletes to compete in more than one sport. After 1991, the GAMES grew steadily and gained a reputation as one of the best state games in the nation, attracting former President George H.W. Bush, George Foreman, Bruce Jenner, Mia Hamm and Dick Enberg to speak at the opening ceremonies. New sports and a third weekend of the GAMES were added in 2001, putting the GAMES on the fast track to being named one of the biggest and best State Games in the Nation by Sports Illustrated in 2003. Since then the GAMES have continued to expand, bringing the total number of sports offered to over 40 and the number of participants in the SMSG Finals alone to 28,037 in 2007.

New in 2008! Thirteen other member states of the National Congress of State Games; Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin have all agreed to send their athletes to compete in the 3rd weekend of the Show-Me STATE GAMES. This weekend of the GAMES will be called the STATE GAMES of Mid-America. States from the Midwest Region of the National Congress of STATE GAMES will now be able to send the athletes who participated in their State Games to Missouri where they all can compete for a chance to qualify for the State Games of America in Colorado, Springs in 2009. The SGMA will be played August 1-3, 2008.

Washers, Billiards and Croquet have been added to the 24th Annual Show-Me STATE GAMES for 2008. With these new sports, the over 40 others offered in the Show-Me STATE GAMES, and the addition of the STATE GAMES of Mid-America, this should insure once again that we indeed have the largest State Games in the Nation, a title that all Missourians can be proud of! Visit www.smsg.org for the latest deadline information on your favorite sport. The Show-Me STATE GAMES will be held July 18-20, 25-27 and the STATE GAMES of Mid-America will be held August 1-3 in Columbia. Opening ceremonies are will be at the Hearnes Center on July 18th at 7pm. Athletes are encouraged to participate in the parade of athletes and everyone is invited to experience the pageantry of the opening ceremonies for FREE!

With the Show-Me State Games rapidly approaching, athletes should seek out Entry Books and register as early as possible. Supermarkets, where Missouri Lottery tickets are sold, are the primary outlets for Entry Book dispersal. To enter your team online, please register at www.smsg.org, or call 573-882-2101 for additional information.

The Show-Me STATE GAMES are here for all Missourians and we encourage you to participate in one of the events, or volunteer to work the GAMES. Visit www.smsg.org, or call 573-882-2101 for more information.