Liberty University rekindles spirit of Virginia Commonwealth Games on campus » Liberty News

 

Teams enjoy in the Liberty Arena on Saturday. (Picture by KJ Jugar)

The spirit of competition and sportsmanship is alive and nicely on Liberty Mountain for the Virginia Commonwealth Video games at Liberty College. Liberty has welcomed 1000’s of novice athletes to campus to contend in a range of sporting activities at Liberty’s state-of-the-art athletics services for the duration of Major Game titles Weekend, which commenced on Friday. This is the seventh consecutive calendar year that Liberty College has served as a principal sponsor and host.

“Liberty University is proud to continue on its partnership with Virginia Amateur Athletics as we host the 2022 Virginia Commonwealth Video games here on campus (and) these talented athletes show their competencies and perseverance all through competitions,” Liberty President Jerry Prevo mentioned.

Organized by Virginia Amateur Sports activities (VAS), the Online games market well being, exercise, and character-building as a result of Olympic-model competitions, permitting athletes of all ages alternatives to construct new friendships, established particular goals and bests, and reveal teamwork and sportsmanship in an environment of pleasant opposition.

A lot more than 100 basketball groups — playing above 400 video games on much more than a dozen courts concerning the LaHaye Recreation & Health and fitness Center, Liberty Arena, and close by Liberty Christian Academy — account for the largest range of athletes. Other athletics held on campus this weekend consist of baseball, beach volleyball, softball, tennis, track and subject, and top. Last weekend, the Online games opened with grownup softball and All-Star baseball, pickleball and racquetball, as properly as skiing and snowboarding at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.

“The athletics facilities at Liberty College are some of the ideal in the place, if not the earth,” VAS President Dan Foutz stated through a pre-Video games press meeting on July 14. “They are just fantastic.”

Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw concurred as he welcomed the newbie athletes to employ the on-campus venues.

“We are blessed with a lovely campus and some remarkable athletics amenities, so to be in a position to supply individuals to the 2022 Commonwealth Games rivals and their families and the guests and all people that will be a aspect of the Key Game titles Weekend, we are absolutely energized and extremely honored to do that,” he reported during the press convention. “The Video games would not go off without having great teamwork and a tremendous range of volunteers who dedicate their time. The City of Lynchburg does so considerably to make this occasion a achievement, and Dan and his group from Virginia Beginner Sporting activities are completely first-course operators of the Video games.”

Opening Ceremonies took spot Friday night in the Liberty Indoor Soccer Observe Facility followed by a tailgate bash that spilled out onto the outside follow industry with video games and food stuff accessible for individuals and their families. The theme was “Women in Sports” in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the implementation of Title IX, which has aided raise feminine participation in higher university sports activities alone from fewer than 300,000 in 1971 to approximately 4 million today. Other than McCaw and Lynchburg Mayor Mary Jane Dolan, Friday night’s festivities included inspirational video messages from three woman Olympic medalists, which includes previous College of Virginia basketball participant and existing South Carolina Head Mentor Dawn Staley, and the lighting of the cauldron by Commonwealth Game titles Youth Woman Athlete of the Calendar year and Nationwide Congress of State Video games Athlete of the Year Olivia Goodwin, a 12-year-aged swimmer who has battled a coronary heart situation to compete in the Games.

Some of the 1000’s of newbie athletes and their families attend Opening Ceremonies. (Photo by KJ Jugar)
A young basketball player and relatives customers appreciate Friday’s Opening Ceremonies tailgate occasion in the Liberty Indoor Soccer Practice Facility. (Picture by Chase Gyles)
Some of the a lot more than 100 participants from the Lynchburg, Va.-primarily based Central Virginia Elite track and area application march in the parade of athletes all through the Opening Ceremonies. (Picture by Chase Gyles)
A Tigers batter fouls off a Bedford Boys pitch at the Liberty Baseball Stadium. (Photo by KJ Jugar)
Recently crowned Miss Virginia Victoria Chuah will help Commonwealth Online games youth woman athlete of the 12 months Olivia Goodwin light-weight the Olympic cauldron during Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies in the Liberty Indoor Football Exercise Facility. (Photo by Chase Gyles)
Pickleball in the LaHaye Health & Recreation Middle on July 15 (Picture by KJ Jugar)