Gardner to assist festivities for State Games of America

By DANNY SUMMERS

The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

DENVER – Rulon Gardner won an Olympic gold medal in wrestling and gives part of the credit for his success to the teaching he received at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

When the 33-year-old found out the 2005 State Games of America were being held in Colorado Springs, Gardner was more than happy to lend his voice to the cause.

“This is sort of like a mini-Olympics, “Gardner said Saturday at a kickoff press conference at Invesco Field. “Having Colorado be part of that is great. People will get a chance to visit the Olympic Training Center and get a feel for what the Olympics are all about.”

Gardner is scheduled to light the torch at the State Games opening ceremonies. The games are set for July28-31 at the Air Force Academy and surrounding sites. More than 9,000 athletes from 40 states are expected to participate. The State Games will be mixed with the Rocky Mountain State Games.

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar spoke at the conference, as did Colorado Lieutenant Governor Jane Bergman Norton and two-time Pan Am Games badminton bronze medalist Kathy Zimmerman.

“The State Games are about competition, “said Gradishar, the NFL defensive player of the year in 1978. “It’s not about winning and losing. It’s about being the best you can be. It’s still having the spirit to say `I want to compete.'”

Former Olympic and professional athletes who have competed in past State Games include: swimmers Tracy Caulkins and Rowdy Gaines, boxer Roy Jones, ice skater Nancy Kerrigan, and basketball stars Danny Manning and Chris Mullin.

Zimmerman will be competing in her third Rocky Mountain State Games.

“I’ll be playing badminton with my father in mixed doubles, “she said. “I just can’t stand not competing.”

Colorado Springs also won the rights to host the 2007 State Games of America. The State Games have been held every two years since 1999. Hartford (Connecticut) hosted the event in 2003.

Tom Osborne, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corp., which is in charge of running the games, said the economic impact to Colorado is expected to be more than $10 million.

Osborne said 112 athletes already have registered and have booked $104,000 of hotel rooms.