Bay State Games

Last updated
Bay State Games
Sport Multiple sports
Category Amateur
Jurisdiction Massachusetts
AbbreviationBSG
Founded1982 (1982) [1]
Affiliation National Congress of State Games
LocationWoburn, Massachusetts
ChairpersonPhil Gloudemans
Other key staffKevin Cummings, Executive Director
Erika Sheinhait, Director of Communications
Alanis Tirabassi, Director of Operations [2]
Official website
www.baystategames.org

The Bay State Games are an Olympic-style athletic event for amateur athletes in the state of Massachusetts, which includes several divisions and allows athletes of all ages to compete. The Games are divided into Summer and Winter Games. The Summer Games include 25 sports and are usually held in late July. The Winter Games include three different sports and are usually held in late January or early February. The Bay State Games is a member of the National Congress of State Games. Kevin Cummings currently serves as executive director.

Contents

Overview

The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation (MASF), organizer of the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, provides Olympic-style athletic competitions and developmental programs for Massachusetts amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. The MASF operates statewide and year-round to promote personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, and mutual respect. The MASF is a member of the National Congress of State Games, which comprises 35 states nationwide that conduct State Games events.

In 2019, the Bay State Summer Games celebrated its 38th anniversary. In 2020, the Bay State Winter Games enjoyed its 35th year. From a modest beginning of four sports and 300 athletes, the Games have grown to include almost 6,000 athletes in 35 different sports from more than 300 Massachusetts cities and towns. Each sport is organized according to national governing body rules. Age and skill divisions have been created to allow medal opportunities for a broad range of athletes.

The Bay State Games is one of the largest amateur multi-sports organizations in the state of Massachusetts. This non-profit organization is a member of the National Congress of State Games, associated with the United States Olympic Committee and its Affiliated Organization Council. The Bay State Games’ mission is to promote personal development, education, health, physical fitness, teamwork and sportsmanship through recreational and educational programs. Over 6,000 Massachusetts residents ranging in age from 6 to 86 participate in these programs each year. Each year, the Bay State Games has over 1,000 volunteer including coaches, referees, and medical staff.

History

The Bay State Games was founded by Dave McGillivray in 1982. McGillivray was on the Governor’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports and wanted to create a statewide summer sports festival for Massachusetts. He appointed Doug Arnot to pitch the idea of “Sportsfest” to the commonwealth of Massachusetts and to become the executive director (1982-1992). “Sportsfest” began with only four sports with 500 athletes. Peter Thomsen (1992-1996), Charlie Noonan (1996-1998), Linda Driscoll (1998-1999), and Kevin Cummings (1999-present) have all served as executive director.

The Games’ breakthrough year came in 1985. Basketball became the Game’s showcase event in both women's and men’s divisions. That same year, Arnot developed the idea of creating a winter sports festival for Massachusetts athletes. The Winter Games took place in the Northern Berkshire region because of the facilities available to them. Four hundred athletes took part in the 1985 Winter Games with competitions that included figure skating, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, and speed skating. Figure skating is the only sport to be included in every Winter Games. Masters ice hockey, youth ice hockey, speed skating, ski orienteering, snowboarding, sled dog racing, and cross country skiing were added into the competitions as the Winter Games became more successful.

Winter Games

The Winter Games are usually held in the months of January, February, and March in the Northern Berkshire region of Massachusetts. Featured sports include figure skating, curling, masters ice hockey, and futsal. Each year, the Winter Games have featured the Bay State Skate Figure Skating Show. This show was created in the 1980s to display some of the best skaters in the Winter Games. The Bay State Skate has more than a dozen Olympic skaters from the National and World Championships. Shows presented by the Bay State Games have included Olympians Nancy Kerrigan, Paul Wylie, Surya Bonaly, Linda Frattiani, Sylvia Fontana, and National competitors Mark Mitchell and Jennifer Kirk. The athletes in the Winter Games represent over 200 Massachusetts communities and participants range from ages 5 to 62.

Events (as of 2020)

Summer Games

The Summer Games is Massachusetts' own Olympic-style athletic competition that has been held since 1982 and features more than 6,000 athletes in 30 sports. Athletes represent over 300 Massachusetts communities, and participants range in age from 5 to 86. The Bay States Games reached it popularity in the 1990s when the number of participants increased to over 10,000 athletes. Over the years, the Bay State Games has expanded and focused more on individual sports such as swimming and track and field. Also, rugby has been one of the Games’ fastest growing sports. Master divisions were created and recreational sports such as baton twirling, judo, table tennis, and badminton. The Summer Games span is six to seven weeks in June and July. Tryouts for the Summer Games are held throughout the month of June, with finals taking place in the Metro-Boston and central Massachusetts area in mid-July.

Events (as of 2020)

Programs

Future Leaders Scholarship Program

The Future Leaders Scholarship annually awards six $1,000 college scholarships to Bay State Summer and Winter Games participants. The MASF is proud to award these scholarships to student-athletes who demonstrate leadership through community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement. Since its inception, more than $400,000 has been awarded to students who have gone on to successful careers at prestigious institutions.

High School Ambassador Program

The High School Ambassador program works with high school students who are interested in a career in marketing or sport management. Ambassadors actively promote Bay State Games in their schools by hanging up posters, meeting with athletic directors and coaches, and sharing posts on social media.

Internship Program

The Bay State Games Internship Program offers candidates the opportunity to gain valuable experience in all phases of sport management. Interns will have the opportunity to learn about event management, financial management, operations, sponsorship fulfillment, and media relations. Unlike many other internships, the Bay State Games Internship Program allows candidates to take ownership of specific projects and manage events. Alumni of the BSG Internship Program have gone onto careers professional and collegiate sports, including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and the Big East Conference,

Sports Medicine Symposium

In conjunction with Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Sports Medicine, the MASF sponsors an annual sports medicine conference to educate athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals on current trends in the field. Participants earn continuing education units to maintain their certification.

Bay State Games Hall of Fame

The Bay State Games Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, volunteers, coaches, officials, organizers and commissioners who have had an extraordinary impact on the people and communities that are a part of the Games. Inductees include former Bay State Games athletes who competed in the Olympics, NBA, NHL, or MLB.

Class of 2019

Class of 2018

Class of 2017

Class of 2016

Class of 2015

Class of 2014

Class of 2013

Class of 2012

Class of 2011

Class of 2010

Class of 2009

Class of 2008

Class of 2007

Class of 2006

Class of 2005

Class of 2004

Class of 2003

Class of 2002

Class of 2001

Notable Bay State Games alumni

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References

https://www.baystategames.org/

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