Virginia

Amateur Sports, organizer and founder of the Virginia Commonwealth Games will be

celebrating the 16th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games on July 15-17 this

year.

The

Commonwealth Games were initiated in 1990 with 4400 athletes competing in 24

sports.

This

year they are expecting over 10,000 athletes as they compete in 50 sports.

More

than 126,000 athletes of all ages have competed in the Games since its inception

in 1990.

Virginia

Amateur Sports is a non-profit organization based in Roanoke, VA.

This

year, Zina Garrison (pictured) will be the keynote speaker at the opening

ceremonies as more than 3,000 athletes march into the Roanoke Civic Center on

Friday night, July 15^th. Past

speakers include, USA Olympians - Rulon Gardner – Shannon Miller – Christine

Witty – Billy Mills – Keri Strug – Tom Brands and others.

For

more information, please visit the game's web site www.commonwealthgames.org