TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Over a three-day stretch, the 2019 Sunshine State Games will take over Pasco and Broward Counties as three events, including Figure Skating, Lacrosse, and Taekwondo, take place, drawing over 2,000 athletes to these communities.
Figure Skating starts the action on Friday at the AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel as 293 skaters will tread the ice in over 150 individual categories of competition over a three-day span. Friday’s opening day of competition will serve as the Sunshine State Games’ Olympic Day for the 2019 Games.
SSG will partner with Florida’s Sports Coast (FSC) on May 17 to celebrate the Olympic Movement and the joy of sport by millions of people around the world. An initiative stemming from the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Day was created in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894. On that day, delegates from 12 countries unanimously approved Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s proposal to revive the Olympic Games, and two years later the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896.
The worldwide celebration aims to promote fitness, well-being, culture and education, while also observing the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The Olympic Day pillars – move, learn and discover – are promoted in every corner of the globe. Olympic Day creates opportunities for people to participate in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.
“Partnering with Experience Florida’s Sports Coast and the USOC to host Olympic Day at the Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships is an honor,” commented Marvin E. Green, Jr., Florida Sports Foundation Vice President of Amateur Sports & Events. “The Games strive to promote and maintain the core values of the Olympic spirit in every one of its events. We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
Spectators are welcome to join in and watch the action with free admission to the general public. A complete schedule for the SSG Figure Skating Championships can be accessed by clicking here.
Jumping into action on Saturday morning will be the Taekwondo Championships at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill. The two-day martials arts event will feature over 150 athletes competing in six rings. From Poomsae demonstrations and forms to sparring, weapon exhibitions, and board breaking, multiple disciplines of skills will be on display.
Sunday, May 19 will feature black belt sparring from 1st to 9th degree Dan divisions among some of the best martial artists in Florida. Competition kicks off Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and admission is free to the public.
“This large-scale hosting opportunity is a result of exceptional teamwork, and we’re grateful for the partnership of our local venues and the Florida Sports Foundation,” said FSC Tourism Director Adam Thomas. “We’re thrilled to showcase the state-of-the-art competition facilities and leisure offerings that make Florida’s Sports Coast a top destination for athletes and families alike.”
Wrapping up the weekend trifecta of action will be the Spring Lacrosse Championships in Plantation. The event, sponsored by the Orange Bowl, draws 140 teams from throughout Florida where over 1,500 athletes will toe the grassy fields for three days of competition. Lacrosse will field eight divisions for boys and girls ages 8 to high school level. With two venues, Plantation Central Park and Pine Island Park serving as the host. Over 20 fields will simultaneously see swift and fast-paced action during the three-day tournament.
“We are overjoyed and excited about this weekend’s lacrosse event and showcasing Florida’s talent and influence in the sport and community,” said state director Bo Lamon. “We are grateful to partner with the Sunshine State Games and the Orange Bowl for such a spectacular event.”
For more information about each of these events, click their respective page links below:
Figure Skating
Taekwondo
Lacrosse
To stay current and up-to-date on all of this weekend’s action, log on to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Interact with Sunshine State Games by using the hashtag #SSG19.
About the Sunshine State Games
The Sunshine State Games are presented annually by the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF), the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization, and a division of Enterprise Florida, Inc. The Foundation works in conjunction with a variety of local sports industry partners to present the different competitions. The Sunshine State Games, an annual amateur sports tradition in Florida, is part of the state’s $57.4 billion sports industry that accounts for 580,000 jobs statewide. #PlayInFlorida
About Florida’s Sports Coast
Florida’s Sports Coast offers travelers the chance to score once-in-a-lifetime memories with thrilling athletic opportunity. Home to 742 square miles of rolling green hills, scenic coastlines, countless amateur sports venues and complexes, picturesque trails and rich culture, this active destination offers game-changing experiences for everyone to enjoy— all situated on the beloved Gulf of Mexico. The sports-inspired lifestyle is celebrated in numerous aspects of today’s society and this motto is a promise to travelers that meaningful and epic activities can be found across this energetic destination. #FLSportsCoast