COLUMBIA, MO — The 34th annual Show-Me STATE GAMES will kick off this weekend with sports including high school basketball and volleyball, swimming, adult soccer, pickleball and par-3 golf.

The Missouri State Senior Games, open to athletes age 50 and older, will also take place starting Thursday, June 7. Seniors from all over the state and beyond will gather in Columbia to compete in this Olympic-style sports festival with more than 20 sports including pickleball, track and field, shooting and tennis.

MU Health Care emergency medical crews and Missouri Orthopaedic Institute athletic trainers will be available at various events. University of Missouri Health Care also makes heat safety tips available for Show-Me STATE GAMES participants, volunteers, spectators and officials. The tips can be found on the Show-Me STATE GAMES website here https://www.smsg.org/2018/stay-safe-in-the-heat/ and in the free souvenir program.

The other two weekends of the 2018 Show-Me STATE GAMES are scheduled for July 20-22 and 27-29. These three weekends together include more than 40 different events that are open to all ages and skill levels. Registration is still open for all July events and information can be found at www.smsg.org/sports. Volunteers are also needed for July events, details at https://www.smsg.org/volunteer/.

This year the GAMES continued its tradition of running the torch across the state of Missouri with Shelter Insurance® Torch Runs. This spring the torch has traveled through eight cities including Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Hannibal, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis and St. Charles. The final legs of the run will take place on Friday, July 20 in Jefferson City at 11 a.m. at the Missouri Governor’s Gardens and in Columbia at Shelter Insurance® at 3:30 p.m. The torch will then make its way to Mizzou Arena for the Opening Ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 20.

— Press Release —