Opening ceremonies for the Alabama State Games are set to kick off tomorrow in Dothan.
The Olympic-styled event is hosted by the Alabama Sports Festival Foundation. That organization is within the United States Olympic Committee family and runs the largest multi-sport event for youth and adults in Alabama.
Anthony Terling is a spokesman for the ASF Foundation. He says the event brings with it a significant economic benefit.
“We provide an economic impact to the communities that host these games. We’ve put in over a million dollars of direct impact with close to two million dollars in direct impact with the hotels and the gas and the food.”
Around 6,000 participants, ranging from youths to adults in their seventies, are set to compete in traditional sports like baseball, track and field, and newer games like handball and ultimate Frisbee. Those that earn medals will have the opportunity to travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan to compete in the National State Games in August.
The opening ceremonies and some of the events will be broadcast on Alabama Public Television.