AMES, IOWA (June 26, 2020) — The Iowa Games, in collaboration with Iowa State University, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Catch Des Moines, announced that the 2021 State Games of America will be moved to 2022. The rescheduling of the event comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many state games to cancel or modify their games this summer.
The 2022 State Games of America will be held July 27-31. As a result of this rescheduling, 2021 Summer Iowa Games events will be July 28-August 1. Some events will remain on their traditionally scheduled weekends.
Over 30 state games from across the country serve as qualifying events for The State Games of America. The Olympic-style competition brings together medalists from other state games. The 2022 State Games of America will be held in conjunction with the Summer Iowa Games. An estimated 6,000 out of state athletes are expected to join the nearly 13,000 Iowa Games participants.
All Iowans are eligible to participate in the State Games of America, along with Illinois and South Dakota athletes as these states currently do not offer a state games. Athletes from qualifying states must receive or have received a gold, silver, or bronze in their state games in 2019 (after July 1), 2020, 2021, and 2022 (before July 1). Any medalists from the 2019 State Games of America are eligible to compete in 2022 if they participate in their respective state games between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2022.
The State Games of America are traditionally held biennially in cities across the country. The 2017 Games were held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2019. This is the first time Iowa has been selected to host the national festival.
It is anticipated that State Games of America will have an economic impact of $25 million on central Iowa, with as many as 10,000 room nights used at area hotels.
The new State Games of America website is being updated to reflect the 2022 changes. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.stategamesofamerica.com.
About The Iowa Games
The mission of the Iowa Games is to provide sports and recreation opportunities for all Iowans through Olympic-style festivals, events and programs. The Iowa Games is a program of the Iowa Sports Foundation.
About The Iowa Sports Foundation
The Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF) was founded in 1986 as a 501(c)3 non-profit entity with the mission to provide sports, recreation, health, and wellness opportunities for Iowans of all abilities. The ISF is comprised of The Iowa Games, Live Healthy Iowa, Adaptive Sports Iowa, Iowa Seniors Games, and The Corporate Games.
About The State Games of America
The State Games of America is an Olympic-style event featuring competition between State Games medal winners (gold, silver, bronze) from across the nation. There are currently 30 states conducting or organizing statewide sports festivals known as State Games. The State Games of America is an event of the National Congress of State Games.
