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Florida Spring Training Baseball tops 1.5 million total
attendance for sixth
straight year
Although there were two less teams playing baseball during the 2009 Major League Baseball Spring Training season in Florida, more than 1.5 million fans attended Grapefruit League baseball games for the sixth consecutive year. From late February to early April, a total of 1,561,873 fans watched the 16 teams comprising Florida's Grapefruit League pre-season in the Sunshine State.
A total of 259 games were played between Major League teams beginning February 25 through April 4 for an average of 6,030 fans per game. Only two games were rained out in the 39 days of the 2009 Florida Spring Training season.
The total attendance was compiled from daily box scores
by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports
promotion and development organization of the State of
Florida, and verified by each team.
The World Baseball Classic provided Grapefruit League
teams with opposition in Florida in early March and a
total of 87,127 fans watched 24 exhibition games on
March 3-5.
The 2008 World Series participants, the Philadelphia
Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays saw significant increases in
their Spring Training attendance totals as fans packed
Bright House Field in Clearwater and the Charlotte
Sports Park in Port Charlotte.
The 2008 World Series Champion Phillies drew a record
133,620 fans in Clearwater and the American League
Champion Rays drew 97,642 in Port Charlotte.
When the Phillies and Rays met in Clearwater on
February 27, a total of 10,270 fans packed Bright House
Field for their first matchup since the November, 2008
when the Phillies won the World Series.
Five teams established new total attendance records and
six teams surpassed the 100,000 total attendance mark.
The New York Yankees led the way with 168,922
fans attending games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in
Tampa. The Yankees also led the Grapefruit League
with an average of 10,558 fans attending 16 games.
The Houston Astros with 62,326 fans attending 17 games
at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.
The 2008 World Series Champions, the Philadelphia
Phillies, drew 133,620 to Bright House Field in
Clearwater, a 14% increase in total attendance from
2008.
The Pittsburgh Pirates drew 87,195 fans to 19 games at
McKechnie Field in Bradenton
Dunedin Stadium hosted 68,674 fans for Toronto Blue Jays
games.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Charlotte Sports Park had 97,642
fans, a 19% increase over the Rays previous record and
23% increase in per game average.
Team by team
individual attendance figures
Atlanta Braves, Champion Stadium, Disney's Wide World of
Sports, Lake Buena Vista 16 games; 133,016 total attendance; 8,314 average per game Largest crowd: 10,955 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 28
Baltimore Orioles, Fort Lauderdale Stadium 16 games (two cancellations); 73,415 total attendance; 4,588 average per game Largest crowd: 8,269 vs. Boston Red Sox, Saturday, March 14
Boston Red Sox, City of Palms Park, Fort Myers 15 games; 117,832 total attendance; 7,855 average per game
Largest crowd: 8,279 vs. Detroit Tigers, Monday, March
23
Cincinnati Reds, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota 15 games; 77,758 total attendance; 5,184 average per game Largest crowd: 7,530 vs. Boston Red Sox, Thursday, March 19
Detroit Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
16
games; 111,131 tottal attendance; 6,946 average per game Largest crowd: 9,680 vs. New York Yankees, Wednesday, March 11
Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
17
games; 69,726 total attendance; 4,102 average per game Largest crowd: 8,131 vs. Boston Red Sox, Saturday, March 21
Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee 17 games; 62,326 total attendance; 3,666 average per game
Largest crowd: 6,6,78 vs. New York Yankees, Wednesday,
March 18
Minnesota Twins, William Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
17
games; 122,555 total attendance; 7,209 average per game Largest crowd: 8,027 vs. Baltimore Orioles, Monday, March 16
New
York Mets, Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie
16
games; 82,116 total attendance; 5,136 average per game Largest crowd: 7,135 vs. Atlanta Braves, Sunday, March 22
New
York Yankees, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
16
games; 168,922 total attendance; 10,558 average per game Largest crowd: 11,113 vs. Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, March 24
Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Field, Clearwater
16
games; 133,620 total attendance; 8,353 average per game Largest Crowd, 10,335 vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 15
Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton 19 games; 87,195 total attendance; 4,589 average per game Largest crowd: 5,866 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 14
St.
Louis Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
18
games; 101,740 total attendance; 5,652 average per game Largest crowd: 8,306 vs. Boston Red Sox, Thursday, March 12
Tampa
Bay Rays, Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte 15 games; 97,692 total attendance; 6,513 average per game Largest crowd: 7,621 vs. New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays, Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin 16 games; 68,674 total attendance; 4,292 average per game Largest crowd: 5,742, vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, March 20
Washington Nationals, Space Coast Stadium, Viera
14
games; 54,154 total attendance; 3,868 average per game
Largest crowd: 6,182, vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday,
March 21
Florida Spring Training Totals
259
games; 1,561,873 total attendance; 6,030 average per
game
Florida Spring Training (1999-2009)
The Florida Sports
Foundation (FSF) awarded 32 grants totaling $245,000 to
sporting events throughout the State of Florida at its
March, 2009 Quarterly Board of Directors meeting. The sale
of professional sports team’s license plates throughout the
state provides the source of funding for the FSF Board to
award funds to statewide sports commissions hosting the
events.
The six major grant events and 26 regional grant events are expected to bring over $75 million into Florida’s economy and over 100,000 visitors to the Sunshine State between April and December 2009. Among the sporting events receiving grants is The National Bowling Association (TNBA) National Championship Tournament, which is anticipated to bring over 21,000 visitors and over $26 million in economic impact to Broward County. The National Bowling Association is the largest minority bowlers association in the world and its National Tournament is comprised of singles, doubles, teams and mixed events. In three previous years, the TNBA national tournament has brought more than $28 million in economic impact to Reno, Nevada, Louisville, Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois.
The Amateur
Athletics Union (AAU) received grants for seven youth
championships being held in three Florida communities.
The AAU Championships in Taekwondo, Karate, Baseball
and Basketball will bring more than 24,000 visitors to
Florida for competition resulting in more than $18 million
in economic impact.
The 32 grants for
the third quarter of the 2008-09 fiscal year were
distributed to a wide variety of events, featuring 19
different sports and a multi-sport event being held in 21
different Florida communities.
Sporting events bring additional tourism to Florida causing a significant out-of-state economic impact on an annual basis. Since 1996, the FSF has been assisting communities around the state in their efforts to attract sport events and opportunities. The March, 2009 disbursement of regional grants was the third of four in the 2008-2009 fiscal year for the FSF.
In the
2008-2009 fiscal year, the FSF has awarded 71 major and
regional grants totaling over $1.1 million.
Combined, the 71 grants have a projected out of state
economic impact of just under $200 million and over 325,000
visitors to the State. The following 32 major and regional grants were awarded at the March, 2009 FSF Board of Directors meeting:
Major Grant
Events
- YMCA National
Swimming and Diving Championships, April 4-9, Fort
Lauderdale
- The National
Bowling Association National Championship Tournament, May
21-31, Fort Lauderdale
- AAU Karate Jr./Sr.
National Championships, June 10-20, Fort Lauderdale
- AAU Taekwondo
National Championships, June 29-July 5, Fort Lauderdale
- Independent
Softball Association Girls Fast Pitch Softball World Series,
July 13-18, Cocoa
Beach
Regional
Grant Events
- AAU Division 1
(11U) Boys Basketball National Championships, July
26-August, 1, Cocoa Beach
- 2009 Gator
Nationals (Bicycle Motorcross Racing), April 3-5, High
Springs
- 2009 USA Rugby
College Playoffs, April 16-19, Sanford
- YMCA Masters
Swimming Championships, April 16-19, Fort Lauderdale
- Fiesta on Siesta
Key (Collegiate
sand volleyball),
April 18, Siesta Key/Sarasota
- Diving Grand Prix,
April 20-26, Fort Lauderdale
- Speedo USA Diving
Spring National Championships, April 22-26, Fort Lauderdale
- Region 8 Prep
Optional Gymnastics Championships, May 1-3, Panama City
Beach
- 2009 NCAA Division
II Men's & Women's Tennis Championships, May 13-26,
Altamonte Springs
- USTA National Clay
Court Championships, May 16-22, Fort Lauderdale
- BIG EAST
Collegiate Baseball Championships, May 18-23, Clearwater
- U.S. Soccer
Development Academy Spring Showcase, May 22-25, Sarasota
- Let It Fly Flag
Football Championships, May 23-24, Daytona Beach
- South Florida
Table Tennis Championships, June 26-29, Hollywood
- AAU Girls
Basketball Division II (12U) National Championships, July
3-8, Greater Fort Myers
- AAU Girls
Basketball Division II (13U) National Championships, July
10-15, Cocoa Beach
- USSSA AA Youth
Baseball World Series, July 12-19, Pace and Pensacola
- Big League Youth
Baseball Regional Tournament, July 18-25, Fort Lauderdale
- AAU Division 1 & 2
(15U & 16U) Baseball National Championships, July 19-26,
Cocoa Beach
- 2009 United
Southern Girls Fastpitch World Series, July 19-26, Pensacola
and Gulf Breeze
- AAU Division II
Boys 11U Basketball National Championships, July 26-August
1, Cocoa Beach
- 2009 Goode
Waterski National Championships, August 11-15, West Palm
Beach
- USTA Summer Smash
Regional Tennis Championships, August 29-September 1/,
Delray Beach and Boca Raton
- Atlantic Coast
Triathlon at Amelia Island, October 3, Amelia Island
- Geico & Offshore
Boating Super Series World Championship Invitational,
October 19-25, Jupiter
- Chiropractic Games
(Multi-sport event), November 6-8, Cocoa Beach
- NCCAA Volleyball
Championships Divisions I & II, November 12-14 and December
3-5, Kissimmee
Lee
County athletes earn Florida Senior Games State Championships
Athlete
In
the third year of an unprecedented five-year run in Lee County
and the City of Cape Coral, a pair of local senior athletes,
Dean Davis, of Fort Myers and Suzy Nothouse, of Estero, were
awarded for their outstanding performances at the 2008 Florida
Senior Games State Championships as the Jimmy Carnes Amateur
Athletes of the Year.
The pair was chosen from over 2,000 athletes who competed in the nine-day event in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral in December, 2008. The 2008 Florida Senior Games State Championships served as a qualifier for the 2009 National Senior Games.
Following his performance at the
2008 Florida Senior Games State Championships, Dean Davis,
celebrated his 80th birthday.
Leading up to that milestone birthday, Davis competed in
11 different events in three sports of the 2008 Games.
Competing in Cycling, Swimming and Race Walk, he earned a silver
medal in the cycling 40K Road Race the 5K Race Walk and had two
bronze medals in swimming events in the 75-79 age group.
To close the track & field competition on Sunday, December 14,
he ran the grandparent/grandchild relay with his 11-year old
granddaughter. What is most impressive about his performance is he was nominated for Athlete of the Year by fellow senior athletes David White and George Knoblock.
“Mr. Davis is the perfect choice for Athlete of the Year,” said David White, who won medals in track & field and basketball shooting. “There is no one who better represents the spirit and the actuality of the Senior Games. It is hard to imagine a better ambassador for these programs. He is surely one of the most engaged and committed athletes of the Senior Games of Florida, other states, and the National Senior Games.”
Davis plans on competing in the 2009 National Senior Games. The 2008 Games were his fourth Florida Senior Games State Championships. Besides competing in sports of the Florida Senior Games, Davis also competes in Senior Games State Championships in Illinois and North Carolina and races in canoe/kayak and mountain biking competition as well as sprint triathlons. During the 2008 calendar year, Davis amassed over 80 medals competing in a variety of sporting events
At 89 years old, Suzy Nothhouse,
of Estero, was the oldest competitor among the 153 swimmers
registered at the Florida Gulf Coast University swimming pool.
She was also one of the 186 senior athletes competing who
were in their 80s.
Nothhouse won gold medals in the 50 yard freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke and is planning on attending the National Senior Games to compete in the 85-89 age group.
Since 2002, Nothhouse has won 12 gold medals, three silver and a bronze swimming in the 80-84 and 85-89 age groups. She won a bronze medal in the 2005 National Senior Games in 50 yard breaststroke.
Before moving to Florida, Nothhouse was a well-known swimming instructor in St. Charles, Missouri and gave lessons to children for many years. She admits to teaching a majority of the children in St. Charles how to swim.
Besides swimming for its athletic benefits, it also soothes Nothhouse’s mind as well. “Swimming has kept me great. If I get depressed or my back hurts, I go swimming and I'm fine,” she said in a 2005 article in the Marco Eagle. “If I don't swim, I'm grouchy."
The 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships return to Lee County and the City of Cape Coral, December 5-13, 2009. Visit www.flasports.com for a list of 2009 Local Senior Games qualifiers and for more information about the 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships.
Previous Florida Senior Games State Championships Athletes of the Year
1994 -
Doris Prokopi, Land O’Lakes; Wayne
Wakefield, Bradenton
1995 - Mary Melehan, Englewood; Leonard Stone, Barefoot Bay
1996 - Hope Fage, Largo; F.L. McFadden, Lakeland
1997 - Ethel Lehmann, Largo; Seymour Duckman, Daytona Beach
1998 - Lucia Schatteleyn, Englewood; Donald Ritenour, Belleview
1999 - Patricia Bond, Bradenton; Gordon Johnson, Dundee
2000 - Erika Messner, Clermont; Al Treichel, Spring Hill
2001 - Sperry Rademaker, Floral City; Howard Hall, Port
Charlotte
2002 - Janice Lathouwers, The Villages; Allen Bjork, Sebring
2003 - Madelaine Cazel, The Villages; James Anderson, New Port
Richey
2004 - Lillian Webb, Sebring; Harry Carothers, Pinellas Park
2005 - Patricia Sargeant, Melbourne; Andy McGuffin, Umatilla
2006 - Sari Kisbany, Redington Shores; Roger Gentilhomme,
Dunedin 2007 - Claudette Braswell, Lake Wales; Larry Wallen, Jacksonville
Florida's Sunshine
State Games calendar of events features 30th Annual
Summer Games
While looking ahead to the coming year, the FSF looks back to recognize its 2008 Sunshine State Games Athletes of the Year, Luke Kendall, a 14-year old medal winner from Winter Haven in Track & Field and Swimming and Evelyn Dowling, an 81-year old synchronized swimmer from West Palm Beach. See more below about Kendall and Dowling.
Sunshine State Games events begin in April with the annual Sport Shooting competition and wraps up in June the weekend of June 12-14. Overall, the Sunshine State Games features 26 sports for amateur athletes of Florida.
With competition taking place in four Florida counties, the Sunshine State Games hosts the Biggest Amateur Sports Day of the Year in the State of Florida on Saturday, June 13. The 2009 Summer Games hosts 20 sports and 3,000 athletes in Polk County while Sunshine State Games Inline Hockey and Water Polo Championships in Fort Myers and Central Florida, respectively. No other annual sports event in the state can match the number of sports and athletes in action on Saturday, June 13.
In 2008, Sunshine State Games competitions featured athletes ranging from age four to 89. Some use the Games as a stepping stone to national and international competition. Some participate the in Games for a fitness opportunity and some compete in the Games for the pure love of a sport. Whatever the reason, Floridians have flocked to the second-oldest state games competition in the United States since 1980.
During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, seven former Sunshine State Games athletes represented the United States in the pinnacle of amateur sports. Those who advanced from the Sunshine State Games to the Olympic Games included Swimmer Ryan Lochte (2001 Games), Walter Dix, Track & Field (2003 Games), Triple jumper Rafeeq Curry (2002 and 2003 Games), Bershawn Jackson, Track & Field (2001 Games), Brian Olson, Judo (early 1990s Games), Triathlete Hunter Kemper (1992 Games) and Archer Vic Wunderle (2006 Games).
CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE 2009 SUNSHINE STATE GAMES CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2008 Sunshine State Games Athletes of
the Year
The performance of Winter Haven’s Luke Kendall's in both track and field and swimming earned a nomination, and subsequently, the Sunshine State Games Male Athlete of the Year. He won 11 medals total including four in track & field and seven swimming medals.
In the Track & Field
competition at Winter Haven High School, he won gold
medals in the Youth Boys division of the 800 Meter Run
(2:31.51), 3000 Meter Run (10:52.82) and 1500 Meter Run
(5:02.87).
He also won a silver in the High Jump (4-00).
At the
swimming competition, he
took a silver and six bronze medals in the 13-14 age
group in the swimming competition.
The silver
medal came in the 200 Yard Butterfly and bronze medals
in the 500 Yard Freestyle,
400 Yard IM, 200 Yard IM, 200 Yard Backstroke,
100 Yard Butterfly and was on the bronze medal winning
Winter Haven Stingrays Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay
swimming with 17-19 year olds.
He also competed in the 2007 Sunshine State Games
swimming competition winning 10 bronze medals.
Evelyn Dowling, of West Palm Beach, has been participating in
the Sunshine State Games as a coach, judge and as a
participant in the Open Division for many years,
according to Synchronized Swimming director, Mary Rose.
“There is no doubt she
would have won gold medals all of these years if we had
a master’s division in the Sunshine State Games
Synchronized Swimming competition,” Rose said.
“She has been an inspiration to all participants
when they see her swim each year.”
Evelyn competed in the Open Solo Free Routine at the 2008 Games and has won Sunshine State Games medals dating back to 1999 and has competed at U.S.S.S.A. She began her involvement in synchronized swimming in 1985 and has enjoyed coaching, competing, choreographing and judging at meets.
Governor Charlie Crist, as part of his ongoing commitment to strengthening Florida’s economy, met with representatives of the Sunshine State’s $36-billion-a-year sports industry to discuss the importance and impact of sporting events such as the recent Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. “In challenging financial times like these, it is important to remember that these teams and sporting traditions are a major part of the state economy, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said Governor Crist, who hosted the group as part of Tallahassee Tuesdays. “People love the Sunshine State for many reasons, and the variety of sporting events and teams we offer is a significant draw for residents and visitors. I look forward to working with Florida’s many sports organizations to keep this industry strong for future generations.” Since 1999, Florida’s sports industry has grown from a $16-billion a year industry to an estimated $36-billion-a-year industry, employing more than 400,000 Floridians. Florida is home to nine major professional sports franchises in the Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Football League, and National Basketball Association, as well as NASCAR, the PGA Tour, the LPGA, and the PGA of America. In each of the four major sports leagues, a Florida team has won its championship within the last six years: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002 Super Bowl Champions; Florida Marlins, 2003 World Series Champions; Tampa Bay Lightning, 2004 Stanley Cup Champions; and Miami Heat, 2006 NBA Finals Champions. The recent Super Bowl XLIII, held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, was the 14th Super Bowl hosted by the Sunshine State, and the fourth in Tampa. Florida has hosted more Super Bowls than any other state – including four since 2000 – and Tampa is one of only four cities in the United States to host the Super Bowl at least four times. The Super Bowl is the world’s largest one-day sporting event, and the economic impact of Super Bowl XLIII is $300-million. In 2010, Miami will host Florida’s 15th Super Bowl. In addition to the Super Bowl, Florida also hosts other championship games. The BCS National Championship for college football was held in Miami last month, and Florida will host the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball Championships and the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships. Florida is also home to 16 of the 30 Major League Baseball club’s spring training programs in 15 locations, making it the nation’s leader for such training. Annual attendance during March spring Training averages 1.56 million each year, an economic impact of more than $450 million. In addition, Florida offers many world-class venues for sports and recreation. The Sunshine State boasts more than 1,200 golf courses, where more than 58 million rounds of golf are played each year. With a 44 percent share of the golf travel market, Florida remains the No. 1 destination for more than 5 million golf travelers each year. Joining Governor Crist today were Larry Pendleton, President and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation; and John Webb, President of Sports Development-Broward County, the largest sports council in Florida. Other sports industry leaders attending Tuesday’s discussion were:
Jeff Mielke of Ft. Myers, the Florida Sports Foundation
designee for the Florida Sports Commission
Mark Jackson of Polk County, president of the Grapefruit League Jack Swope of Orlando, executive vice president for the Orlando Magic
Florida Senior Games State
Championships return to Lee County for two more
years
The Florida Sports Foundation and the Lee County Sports Authority announced Tuesday, December 2, the Florida Senior Games State Championships will return to Lee County and the City of Cape Coral in 2009 and 2010.
The extension of the current three-year agreement signifies an unprecedented five-year run in Southwest Florida. In the 17-year history of the Florida Senior Games State Championships, no community has hosted the Games for five consecutive years.
“We are honored to be awarded the Florida Senior
Games State Championships again for 2009 and 2010,”
said Jeff Mielke, Executive Director of the Lee
County Sports Authority. “Our partnerships
with the City of Cape Coral, Lee County Parks &
Recreation and the Florida Sports Foundation have
enabled us raise the bar to new standards in hosting
the Senior Games.”
“Over the last three years, we have enjoyed our partnership with the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department and Lee County Sports Authority,” said Stephen Rodriguez, Director of Amateur Sports for the Florida Sports Foundation. “We received very positive comments from our athletes about the community and competition venues,” “Those two factors played a big part in extending the current agreement.”
More than 2,000 senior athletes, age 50 and over are expected to compete in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral when the 2008 Games begin on December 6. The nine-day Olympic-Style Sports Festival continues through December 14.
In the last two years
with Lee County and the City of Cape Coral serving
as host for the Florida Senior Games State
Championships, over
5,300 athletes visited Lee County generating over $2
million in economic impact.
Over 6,000 hotel room nights were used by
senior athletes
and nearly
$40,000 in resort tax has been collected, according
to the Lee County Sports Authority.
Since the Florida Senior Games State Championships inception in 1992, more than 30,000 athletes have competed in the annual Games. Lee County and the City of Cape Coral is the sixth Florida community to serve as host of the Games.
A total of 40 Olympic athletes who call a Florida city their hometown or currently live in Florida won 29 medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, held in Beijing, China. The 40 athletes competed in 15 different sports contested in the 16 days of the 29th Olympic Games. U.S. athletes from Florida garnered 13 gold medals, five silver and 11 bronze medals. Basketball and Beach Volleyball team members accounted for five of the gold medals as Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard were members of the U.S. Olympic Basketball team. Sylvia Fowles, who grew up in Miami and was a member of the Edison High School State Championship team, won gold for the women’s basketball team. Floridians were successful in the sand of the Beach Volleyball competition as Misty May-Trainor, a Coral Springs resident, and Phil Dalhausser, an Ormond Beach native and University of Central Florida alum, won gold medals. Track and Field athletes Natasha Hastings, of Clermont, and Sanya Richards, of Fort Lauderdale were members of the gold medal winning 4 X 400 relay team. Richards also won a bronze medal in the 400 meter run. Swimmer Ryan Lochte, of Ormond Beach, won gold medals in the 200 meter backstroke and the 4 X 200 meter relay. He earned a pair of bronze medals in the 200 and 400 meter IM events. Also winning gold medals were Venus and Serena Williams, residents of Palm Beach Gardens, in women’s double tennis and Laura Kraut, an equestrian athlete from Wellington, in team jumping. Seven of the 40 athletes who traveled to Beijing to compete have experience in Florida’s Sunshine State Games, an Olympic-style Sports Festival for amateur athletes of the state. Brian Olson, of Woodville and early 1990s Sunshine State Games participant, was named captain of the U.S. Olympic Judo team. Lochte won gold medals in the 2001 Sunshine State Games swimming competition. The track & field competition featured three former Sunshine State Games participants in 100 and 200 meter dash bronze medalist Walter Dix, of Coral Springs and triple jumper Rafeeq Curry, of Miami. Dix and Curry were also members of the three-time Florida State University National Championship Track & Field teams. Bershawn Jackson, of Miami, won a bronze medal in the 400 meter hurdles. Triathlete Hunter Kemper, a native of Longwood, was a seventh place finisher in the men’s triathlon and Archer Vic Wunderle, a resident of Lighthouse Point, advanced to the final eight in his third consecutive Olympic Games appearance. Florida’s Sunshine State Games began in 1980 in an effort to increase athletic participation for Floridians in amateur athletics. During the 1976 Olympic Games, then-State Senator Bob Graham inquired about the number of Florida athletes participating. He was shocked to find out there were only nine Floridians among the U.S. Olympic team. Graham set out to increase athletic participation for Floridians in amateur athletics.
Florida's Sunshine State Games began as only the second
Olympic-style Sports Festival.
Only New York's Empire State Games preceded the
Sunshine State Games.
Today, more than 40 states offer State Games
competitions.
Head Coach Davey Johnson, resident of Winter Park
Sports means $32 billion to
the State of Florida The 2006 Citgo Bassmasters Classic, known as
the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing,” will be held
in Kissimmee in February.
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