Published: June 10, 2006 11:05 pm      

State Games of Mississippi are still expanding

In the fall of 1991, a group from the Lauderdale County Tourism Department attended the National Conference of State Games.

Upon their return to Meridian, the group began to share what they had learned with others in the community, with hopes of attempting such a feat locally.

“They pitched the idea to several communities in the state and Meridian was the community that really stepped up,” said April Luke, executive director of the State Games of Mississippi.

They began with two sponsors — Rush Foundation Hospital and Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company — and one weekend of competition featuring 1,800 amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. Today, State Games of Mississippi includes more than 40 sponsors, 30 sports events, has expanded to two weekends and, this year, will welcome more than 5,000 athletes from across the state.

With the competition just days away, Luke said, phones have been ringing non-stop at the State Games headquarters. The opening ceremony for State Games will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian High School’s Ray Stadium.

“Fifteen years later, we are still expanding,” she said. “We’ve grown from one weekend to two weekends and one community to two communities, expanding to Philadelphia and Neshoba County.”

Luke recently met with The Meridian Star’s Editorial Board to discuss the evolution of the State Games of Mississippi, as well as plans and goals for its future. Read the complete interview in Monday’s edition.