MEDIA RELEASE

July 13, 2011 - The greater Augusta area is alive with sporting events this week, as more than 4,000 athletes and fans will visit the area for competition. Together, these events are expected to generate more than $2.5 million in economic impact for the community.

The Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Finals at Nike Peach Jam, currently underway at Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta plays hosts to the top 24 EYBL teams. Competition continues through Friday, when the championship game, scheduled for 7:00 pm, will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

The Lineage of Champions Peach State Summer Showcase welcomes 150 AAU travel basketball teams from July 12-15. The showcase will feature 150 teams at venues throughout the area, including Augusta State University, USC Aiken, Augusta Prep, Augusta Christian, Patriots Park, Greenbrier High School, Greenbrier Middle School, Thomson High School and Thomson Middle School.

In other sports, the Aiken-Augusta Swim League hosts the 2011 Georgia Age Group Long Course State Championship swim meet on July 14-17, 2011 at the Augusta Aquatic Center. More than 750 swimmers from all over Georgia, ages 14 years old and younger, will be participating in this pinnacle swim meet for swimmers in the state who have obtained very competitive qualifying times in various swimming events earlier in the season. 

The Augusta Sports Council is seeking nominees for its annual sports awards program, the Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports (G.A.M.E.S.) Awards. Since the Sports Council’s inception in 1991, G.A.M.E.S. Awards have been presented annually to the top area high school, amateur and adaptive sports athletes, coaches and officials. The awards will be presented at the Augusta Sports Awards Banquet to be held in May 2011.

All nominees must be at least of high school age and residents of Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie or Aiken Counties. A downloadable nomination form is available here. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 22, 2011.

Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports Award Categories
Adaptive Star
All-Around Male & Female Athlete
Amateur Star
Collegiate Star
Outstanding Male & Female Athlete
Rising Star (Male & Female)
Outstanding High School Team
Outstanding Coach
Outstanding Official

For more information, please contact the Augusta Sports Council at 706.722.8326 ext. 231.

The Augusta Sports Council will award the 19th annual Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports (GAMES Awards) at our sports awards banquet on Tuesday May 11, 2010 at the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites in Downtown Augusta.

The ceremony will also feature special guest Cal Ripken, Jr.  Ripken is first and foremost known for his many achievements in baseball which span 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.  Since being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, Ripken has gone on to add the title of author, philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Ripken Baseball Inc. to his name.

The GAMES Awards have been presented since 1992. The annual program was created to highlight the outstanding amateur athletes that represent a broad spectrum of sports disciplines in the CSRA. Awards are presented to high school athletes in the categories of All-Around Athlete, Outstanding Athlete, Rising Star and Outstanding Team.  Special recognition is also paid to outstanding high school coaches, in addition to club sport, collegiate and adaptive athletes.

The GAMES Awards banquet is open to the public.  Check-in and a social hour will open at 6:30 PM, with dinner and program beginning promptly at 7:30 PM.  Tickets are $45 for Sports Council members and $50 for non-members.  Tables of 8 are also available. Please call 706.722.8326 x 231 for reservations.

The Swim Champions Fitter & Faster Tour will make a stop at the Augusta Aquatic Center on Sunday, May 23, 2010. The Fitter & Faster Tour is a unique opportunity for swimmers ages 5-18 to meet and learn from Olympic medalists and world champions. Athletes scheduled to appear at the Augusta event include US Olympic Gold Medalist Misty Hyman, US Olympic medalist Maritza Correia, the first African-American female to make the US Olympic Team, and Olympic medalist and 2009 World Champion Matt Targett.

The cost for registration is $75 per person. All participants will receive a gift bag with a Speedo t-shirt, event program, TYR swim cap, and samples from companies including Powerbar, UltraSwim and Chocolate #9. For more information or to register online, visit the Fitter & Faster Tour Augusta website.