Capitol Sports Vice President George Habel gives us a look at the recent Powerade State Games, sponsored in part by Capitol Broadcasting, in his Note to Self blog this week:

I’m ringing the bell for the just-concluded Powerade State Games of NC. The Games returned to the Triangle this summer for a two-year run.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Durham Coke and Capitol Broadcasting worked with the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau to include Durham in the event. That work was done back in 2011, but the payoff came during three weeks of competition in June…

• 22,000+ spectators
• 11,074 participants
• 1,023 coaches
• 654 teams
• 600+ volunteers
• 300+ sport officials (umpires, referees, etc.)
• 28 million media impressions

Durham hosted 8,000 participants and spectators for lacrosse, baseball, basketball and track & field at Duke, NCCU, the Emily K Center and County Stadium.

The 2015 Powerade State Games: Track & Field at Durham County Stadium

The Powerade State Games is an Olympic-style sports festival comprised of 31 events ranging from youth baseball to BMX, table tennis to Taekwondo, fencing to figure skating. The competition moves around the state every two years. It was held in Charlotte during 2013-14.

My primary interest is in sports tourism – keeping our hotels and restaurants busy – but there’s something to be said for the Games’ statewide mission of community. The competition draws participants from 91 of NC’s 100 counties. And it’s aspirational. Young athletes are exposed to our Triangle university campuses and participate in a sports festival promoting Olympic values.

NC Amateur Sports, our neighbor on the American Tobacco Campus, ably organizes the Games each summer. I’ve been on the board of directors for over 20 years. I can’t seem to shake my enthusiasm for their work!

Thanks to CS’ George Habel for this capcom story & for these capcom photos.