Danbury has taken the baton and will play host to the statewide thrill of victory and agony of defeat for 6,000 competitors known as the Nutmeg State Games.
The Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau says the games will add at least $900,000 to local coffers. Â
The games have already begun, with preliminary events in the new host city. Danbury holds an option to host the annual games for the next two years.
Figure skating, roller hockey, and fast-pitch softball were among the early events, taking place prior to the official opening of the games July 20.
Figure skating included over 160 skaters competing at the Danbury Ice Arena.
“We are ready,” said Wayne Shepperd, Danbury’s director of economic development.
According to Shepperd, he and a 10-person committee have been meeting monthly for two years in preparation for the athletes flocking to the city for the six-day, 27-sport challenge.
“We”™re very excited to have several thousand athletes filling our restaurants and hotels,” said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. “Not only the athletes, but the parents and grandparents of the athletes will be flooding the city.”
The Nutmeg State Games is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation governed by a 27-member board, founded by the games executive director William G. Mudano.
Mudano and Nutmeg Games”™ associate director Patrick Fisher have packed a program encompassing 400 contests at 15 facilities.
“It”™s been our job to get the fields prepared, the volunteers ready and the town organized,” said Shepperd.
“We’ve never had this kind of support,” said Fischer. “Danbury has been great every step of the way. It”™s a time-consuming process. We wanted to bring everything to Danbury. The city has bent over backwards to make that possible.”
The games for the previous three years were held in Bridgeport.
Events include: archery, BMX bike racing, diving, fencing, gymnastics, Judo, events for the physically challenged, shooting, swimming, Tae Kwon Do, track and field, baseball, basketball, deck hockey, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, roller hockey, rugby, soccer and Wiffle Ball (see page 39 for separate story).
The games are endorsed by the Governor”™s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and recognized by the National Congress of State Games and by the United States Olympic Committee.
