LINCOLN - A little dash of foosball, a tablespoon of fishing, a golf scramble fund-raiser and a pinch of high school team golf were added to the successful recipe of the Cornhusker State Games.
Dave Mlnarik, executive director of the 20th annual State Games, announced Tuesday that those new events would be added to the lineup that includes basketball, disc golf, archery, martial arts, track, volleyball and arm wrestling among the 54 sports offered every summer.
Even with the addition of new sports and thousands of potential new participants, registration has never been easier, with the addition of on-line registration available (cornhuskerstategames.com), Mlnarik said.
"We thought 20,000 participants for the 20th year of the State Games had a nice ring to it so we added some sports," he said. "You're not going to want to miss this one.
"With the addition of 5,700 participants in the N-Lighten team wellness program, I think we'll have the biggest opening ceremonies, Family Fest and overall State Games ever."
Gov. Mike Johanns praised the organization that runs the State Games at a luncheon Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Downtown.
"It's hard to believe that the games are 20 years old, yet here we are marking a true milestone for our state's premier amateur sports festival," he said. "As many events and several other State Games programs across the country have come and gone over the course of the past 20 years, ours has not only managed to survive, it has thrived and grown into a nationally recognized and respected program."
Mlnarik praised the work of his predecessor, Tom Ash, who was the executive director of the State Games for many years.
"I keep saying, he took a moped, and after all his work and effort, handed us the keys to a Cadillac," Mlnarik said. "We have to keep the car out of the ditch. And we figure we're going to crank up the bass and see how this baby runs when you open it up."
Mlnarik said he has found positive response from the business community in terms of financial support and in-kind donations.
He said the volunteer network that helps run the games has been as strong as ever and continues to grow with the State Games.
"We've always wanted to have fishing," he said, "and we arrived at a non-competitive event at USWest Lake at Mahoney State Park, where equipment, bait and instruction from Games and Parks will be available to all who enter.
"Foosball is making a comeback, and through the Penalty Box Pub, we'll have a full slate of competition near the Ice Box on the State Fairgrounds."
Mlnarik said the State Games will also add "team penning," an equestrian event where three riders and horses split up a herd of steers. The high school golf event is an attempt to attract younger golfers in a three-person team event.
In other changes:
n Basketball will have additional three-point shooting and free-throw shooting events to conclude before the men's open five-on-five championship.
n Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad joined Lincoln Benefit Life and the Lincoln Journal Star as grand champion sponsors.
n The annual Torch Run will start May 24 north of Chadron. Preliminary rounds of the Talent Search will be held in eight communities along the route to Lincoln.
n Masters track and field competition will be held July 17 immediately following the youth meet.
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