Alabama Association of RC&D Councils Supports 40 Years of the Alabama State Games
The Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, Alabama RC&D, partnered with the ASF Foundation to sponsor the 40th Annual Alabama State Games, held in Birmingham and the surrounding areas in June 2023. The Alabama State Games provide athletes, regardless of their age and ability, with an olympic-style competition in an effort to raise up the next generation of olympic athletes.
This year’s Opening Ceremonies, held on June 9 at the Bartow Arena in downtown Birmingham, boasted of 6,000 registered athletes competing in 26 different sporting events in the Birmingham and Jefferson County area.
“We are excited to sponsor the Alabama State Games,” said Katie Conner, Alabama RC&D Executive Director. “These games bring athletes from all over the state together and gives them a positive envirnoment to become better athletes and aligns perfectly with the mission of Alabama RC&D to foster economic and community growth and development across the state.”
The Alabama State Games was started at the request of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as a grassroots program to generate interest in Olympic sports and develop future Olympians. Alabama is the second oldest State Games Program in the nation celebrating 40 years of the Alabama State Games in June. What started with four sports and 600 athletes has grown to 26 sports and an expectation of 6,000 athletes in 2023. Their mission is to encourage and emphasize academic excellence, healthy lifestyles and good citizenship using athletics as the vehicle.
“Our vision is to make Alabama a better place to live, work and play and what better way to do that than by partnering with the Alabama State Games,” said Conner.
The Alabama State Games have been held in Auburn, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and the Wiregrass region.