Grand Canyon State Games, Phoenix Commission to merge

Sports Commission Creates Partnership with Grand Canyon State Games



PHOENIX – The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission has announced its merger with the Grand Canyon State Games, including its National Native American Games division, to strengthen the work both organizations do in the local and state-wide community. Under the direction of the Sports Commission, these organizations will operate independently with a shared board of directors led by Board Chairman Garry Hays.

“The Grand Canyon State Games has a rich history in Arizona of providing amateur athletes with quality athletic play and competition regardless of the athletes ability,” said Phoenix Regional Sports Commission Interim President Rob Yowell. “The Sports Commission is proud to help lead the Games into the future.”

“At their cores, both organizations are in the business of economic development and we accomplish this through a sports tourism platform,” said Phoenix Regional Sports Commission past Board Chairman Don Kile. “As competition for sponsorship and financial support heats up in the non-profit world, organizations like Grand Canyon State Games are often over-looked in favor of health, safety and education related organizations. The Grand Canyon State Games is a treasure in our community and this alliance will allow us to add value to, and impact upon, our community. The impact will not only be evident on the field of competition and our community’s quality of life, but within our economic development and grassroots sports tourism communities.”

“We look forward to working with the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission and the extraordinary leadership there to continue the longstanding success of the Grand Canyon State Games and the Native American Games,” said Grand Canyon State Games Executive Director Erik Widmark. “When two work together, both are strong.”

The merger of these two organizations will provide for efficient use of shared resources and event scheduling. The Sport’s Commission’s High School Sports Division will pair its Showcase Series of events with the Grand Canyon State Games in Olympic format events such as swimming, track and field, volleyball, softball, and others. The first cooperative events are scheduled for early 2014 and will draw thousands of elite high school athletes from across the country to compete as the feature showcase during the Games competition that includes amateur athletes ranging in age from two to 99.

About the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission was created in 1988. The mission of the Sports Commission is to “Enrich Our Community Through Sports" by representing the citizens of the Valley to bring national and international sporting events to the state, assist in the promotion of existing events and teams, and support youth sports programs. To learn more about the Sports Commission, please visit www.phoenixsports.org.

About the Grand Canyon State Games
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Grand Canyon State Games is Arizona’s Amateur Olympics. In celebrating our 20th Anniversary year, the mission remains solid in showcasing the talents and aspirations of Arizona’s and America’s amateur athletes regardless of age or ability. Approximately 25,000 participants compete annually and over 450,000 athletes have competed to date since our inception in our year-round format which offers over 100 sporting events and the nation’s largest Art and Essay Contests. The tradition of excellence continues in the nationwide prestigious Lori Piestewa National Native American Games event. The vision remains strong in our motto to Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get Healthy!