The local portion of the Grand Canyon State Games' summer sports festival is being held throughout Tucson this weekend.
Didn't know that was going on? Or that it even existed? You're not alone.
Now in its 10th year, the Tucson Competition will have seven events and about 1,000 athletes participating.
The Northwest Side is host to two events — the youth swimming and adult track and field competitions. Both will be held Saturday at Amphitheater High School, 125 W. Yavapai Road.
Other local events include BMX bike racing, cycling, golf, handball and squash.
"Tucson, being as large as it is, it's a natural (fit)," Executive Director Erik Widmark said. "It actually draws athletes from all over the state. It's absolutely a big part of the Grand Canyon State Games."
People are also reading…
But not as big as it used to be.
A lack of promotion locally has led to waning interest, with the current lineup of events and number of participants down from highs of 19 sports and more than 2,300 competitors in 2002.
Hoping to increase local awareness and participation, the Grand Canyon State Games has teamed with the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The bureau, an independent nonprofit organization, has sent out press releases to help spread the word about the local games.
"We're just kind of building some bridges," said Kimberly Schmitz, director of communications and public relations for the bureau. "We would like to be billed as being a very sports-friendly town."
On that note, Schmitz said the bureau's director of sports development, Vince Trinidad, is hoping to lure the Grand Canyon State Games' International Hispanic Games, a five-sport festival that was held Memorial Day weekend in Phoenix, to Tucson in the future.
"That would be a natural fit here," she said.
The Grand Canyon State Games' main summer competition is June 22 through 25 in Phoenix. It is in its 14th year and will have 33 sports.
Many people who participate in the Tucson Competition also head up to Phoenix for the main event, Widmark said. And winners of gold medals in Tucson in sports that are also part of the Phoenix games receive free entry into the larger competition.
Registration is still available for most local events. For more information, go to www.gcsg. org/tucson_games/index.html.
IF YOU GO
What: Grand Canyon State Games, Tucson Competition
When: Saturday and Sunday
Locations for Saturday events
● *BMX bike racing : Manzanita BMX, 5200 S. Westover Ave.
● Cycling: Pima College West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road
● *Golf: Dell Urich Golf Course, 600 S. Alvernon Way
● *Swimming: Amphitheater High School, 125 W. Yavapai Road
● Track and field (Saturday): Amphitheater High School, 125 W. Yavapai Road
Locations for Saturday-Sunday events
● Handball (Saturday-Sunday): Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club, 4001 N. Country Club Road
● Squash (Saturday-Sunday): Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road
* Gold medal winners earn free entry into Phoenix competition June 22 through 25.
For more information, call 480-517-9700 or go online to www.gcsg.org/ tucson_games/index.html
