National games will have big impact in Lincoln

As many as 20,000 athletes are expected to make their way to Lincoln this summer for the biennial national event, which comes to Nebraska for the first time.

From July 28 through Aug. 2, the State Games of America will expand upon the annual Cornhusker State Games, drawing 6,000 to 8,000 qualifying athletes from across the country.

Paired with the expected 12,000 athletes from Nebraska, the number of participants could more than double the record 10,000 who participated in the State Games of America in 2009.

Nebraska Sports Council Executive Director Dave Mlnarik said athletes from 29 states have signed up since registration opened.

“We are pleased to see that many people are recognizing what a great event this is going to be,” Mlnarik said.

Officials have estimated an economic impact of $30 million for this summer's event.

Lincoln was chosen for its quality venues, including Memorial Stadium and Pinnacle Bank Arena, the dedication of city and state leaders and the track record of hosting successful Cornhusker State Games, Mlnarik said.

The obvious benefit of bringing together out-of-town and out-of-state athletes is the economic boost that Lincoln lodging and restaurants will see, Mlnarik said. But he predicts a less measurable benefit as well.

“We are working to keep and draw young talented people to the city,” he said. “They can look at events like this and point and say ‘Lincoln was the best place for this.’ It gives people a sense of pride in their city.”

The Nebraska Sports Council promises it will be an event to remember and be proud of, Mlnarik said. Although many things are still in the planning stages, he said everything is on schedule.

The opening ceremonies will take place at Memorial Stadium and include Olympic hurdler and bobsledder Lolo Jones and Olympic wrestler and Nebraska assistant coach Jordan Burroughs. An estimated 40,000 are expected to attend.

Jones competed in the Iowa Games after her high school career in Des Moines and says the event was her first exposure to a broader range of competition. The State Games of America takes that to another level.

"You get to meet people from different places who are training hard and trying to do their best at a sport they love, just like you," Jones said. "It opens a floodgate to new friendships. Some of my best friends are people that I never would have met if we hadn't competed against each other."

More than 60 sports will be offered -- a record. These range from traditional sports like basketball to emerging sports like chess. The most popular event is figure skating, which will take place in the Omaha area and is expected to draw 900 participants.

Another popular sport, wrestling, will take place in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The variety of sports is an opportunity to “invigorate and attract interest and an audience,” Mlnarik said, but more importantly to help promote the Sports Council’s mission of quality competition and healthy lifestyle.

“(The State Games of America) is a stage for us and our community on many levels,” he said.