SSG International Beach Games Brings Amateur Sports to Clearwater Beach

Now in its 38^th year, the Sunshine State Games (SSG) continues to offer Florida’s amateur athletes the latest innovations and trends in the national and international sports arena.  Adding to the Games tradition that spans four decades, Florida’s Olympic-style sports festival takes the Games to Clearwater Beach, beginning Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1.

The SSG International Beach Games features competition in Beach Rugby, Beach Tennis, Beach Soccer, Beach Ultimate, Beach Powerlifting, Scottish Heavy Athletics, Ultra Weight Pentathlon and Under 19 Super Weight Throw.  The Games are open to athletes throughout the world and presented by St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events, Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Florida Sports Foundation.

Online registration and competition information is currently available at www.ssgbeachgames.com.  Entry fees for each sport and registration deadlines vary by sport.  Inquiries can also be made by calling toll free 1-866-FLGAMES (354-2637) or by email to games@flasports.com.

This is the third year, the FSF has partnered with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort for the International Beach Games.  However, the 2017 Games are presenting the most sports to date with eight.

Making their debut in the 2017 Games are Beach Rugby, Beach Soccer, Powerlifting and the Scottish Heavy Athletics.  Beach Ultimate and Beach Tennis have been contested in each of the previous two years and Weight Throw events began last year.

Four of the sports will follow the rules of its National Governing Bodies with the weight throw events being held under the auspices of USA Track and Field, Beach Ultimate (USA Ultimate), Powerlifting (US Powerlifting Association), Beach Rugby (USA Rugby and Rugby Americas North)

The International Beach Games transforms the wide Clearwater Beach between the Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Gulf of Mexico into an athletic playground.  To accommodate the sports involved athletes and spectators will be treated to a variety of multi-purpose field to include four Ultimate fields, two Beach Rugby pitches and three Beach Soccer fields, eight Beach Tennis courts, a 75-yard throwing area for the Weight Throws and Scottish Heavy Athletics and a Powerlifting platform.

“The International Beach Games concept is perfect for Clearwater Beach and area around the Sheraton Sand Key Resort,” said Florida Sports Foundation Sr. Vice President, Stephen Rodriguez. “Visitors to the area on perfect late-summer, early fall weekend strolling along the beach will be amazed at what they see.  Between the quality of athletes competing on the beach and the setup of the competition areas, this will be quite a spectacle.”

Schedule of Events – More info to be added as event approaches
Friday, September 29
9:00 a.m.              Beach Tennis

Saturday, September 30
9:00 a.m.              Beach Tennis
9:00 a.m.              Beach Powerlifting
10:00 a.m.           Ultra Weight Pentathlon and Under 19 Super Weight Throw

TBA                        Beach Rugby
TBA                        Beach Ultimate
TBA                        Beach Soccer

Sunday, October 1
9:00 a.m.              Beach Tennis
TBA                        Beach Rugby
TBA                        Beach Soccer
TBA                        Beach Ultimate
TBA                        Scottish Heavy Athletics

The Sunshine State Games are an annual program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization.  The 2017 International Beach Games are being held in conjunction with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports and Events and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort.  For more information about the Games, the nation’s longest continuously-running State Games in the nation, visit www.sunshinestategames.com.