Florida’s Annual Amateur Sports Tradition, the Sunshine State Games (SSG), returns to Clearwater Beach in September for the Fourth Annual SSG International Beach Games, September 28-30 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. The Beach Games continue to offer Florida’s amateur athletes the latest innovations and trends in the national and international sports arena.
The 2018 SSG International Beach Games features competition, on Clearwater Beach’s sugar white sands, in Beach Tennis, Beach Ultimate (Frisbee), Beach Powerlifting, Cornhole, Highland Games, Ultra Weight Pentathlon, and Under 19 Super Weight Throw. The Games are open to athletes throughout the world and presented by St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, and the Florida Sports Foundation.
The International Beach Games transforms the wide Clearwater Beach between the Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Gulf of Mexico into an athletic playground. To accommodate the sports involved, athletes and spectators will be treated to a variety of multi-purpose fields to include four Ultimate fields, 12 Beach Tennis courts, a 75-yard throwing area for the Weight Throws and Scottish Heavy Athletics, and a Powerlifting platform.
Three of the sports will follow the rules of its National Governing Bodies with the weight throw events being held under the auspices of USA Track and Field, Beach Ultimate (USA Ultimate), and Powerlifting (US Powerlifting Association).
Being held at one of the top beaches in the country, the International Beach Games attracts athletes from around the country and the world to Clearwater Beach.
Of the more than 400 athletes who competed in the 2017 SSG International Beach Games, athletes traveled to the Sunshine State from Italy, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. A total of 15 states were represented by competitors from Arizona to North Carolina and New York to Alabama and also included 50 Florida cities that made their way to Clearwater Beach for the Games.
“We look forward to this continual partnership with Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort as our hosts for the International Beach Games,” said Marvin E. Green, Jr., FSF’s Vice President of Amateur Sports and Events. “Having this opportunity to showcase one of the best beaches in the world while competing in various beach-themed sports enables athletes to experience Florida in a unique environment while embracing the games and displaying why the Sunshine State is where people come to play.”
The Sunshine State Games are an annual program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization,and are the longest continually-running State Games in the nation, now in its 39th year. The 2018 SSG International Beach Games are held in conjunction with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort.
Since February, over 8,000 athletes have competed in 20 sports held in 10 different Florida communities. For results of the past SSG competitions, click here.
Online registration and competition information is now available via ClearThunder. Entry fees for each sport and registration deadlines vary by sport. Inquiries can also be made by calling toll free 1-866-FLGAMES (354-2637) or by email to games@flasports.com.
About the Florida Sports Foundation: Florida’s Sports Industry creates over $57.4 billion in economic impact for the Sunshine State, provides over 580,000 jobs for its citizens, and attracts over 16 million out of state visitors each year. All of which deservingly make Florida the “Sports Capital of the World”. The Florida Sports Foundation, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 non-profit corporation, serving as the Sports Industry Development Division of Enterprise Florida, Inc. The mission of the Florida Sports Foundation is to:
Assist Florida’s communities with securing, hosting and retaining Sporting events and sports related business that generate significant economic impact and Sports Tourism for the state of Florida through the Foundation’s grant programs, legislative initiatives and Industry Partner service, recognition and development.
Provide the citizens of Florida with participation opportunities in the Sunshine State Games and Florida Senior Games events
Serve as Florida’s leading resource for Sport Tourism research and facts
Assist in the promotion of targeted leisure sports industries in Florida
Assist National and Florida State Governing Bodies to promote amateur sport development through the Sunshine State Games and hosting events in Florida.
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