The Maine Games, an Olympic-style sports festival, kicked off the opening of the registration season with its first event of 2005. On March 26, the Maine Games-Maine State Powerlifting Championships were held in Brewer. This marked the first time that the Maine Games were held out of the Portland area – but not the last time this year, as events are scheduled for the Auburn-Lewiston, Biddeford-Saco and Bath-Brunswick areas this summer.

More than 60 competitors and nearly 400 spectators packed the Brewer Auditorium to see several state records fall to Maine Games lifters.

“This year the Maine Games opened up the festival season with an event of monumental proportions,” said Executive Director Jeff Scully. “In the past we tried to kick things off with a luncheon, but this year I thought we’d start our competitions with an event. Powerlifting turned out to be just the right sport for that.”

Lifters as young as 13 and as old as 75 competed in the squat, bench press and dead lift. Maine Games President Sean Casey of Bangor said that he was amazed at the quality of the athletes lifting at the meet.

“Without a doubt, we had most of the strongest men, women and teens in our state at this meet. It was an amazing spectacle to see the dedication and sportsmanship and camaraderie of these athletes. That’s what the Maine Games are all about.”

The Maine Games continues with its next competition scheduled for May 14 in Saco. Hundreds of baton twirlers will take center stage at Thornton Academy, and for the third straight year, Maine’s three governing bodies for baton twirling will merge for one day of competition, fun and excitement.

In June, the Games really get moving with an off-road 5k race scheduled for June 11, at South Portland’s Wainwright Farm. The next weekend will see ultimate Frisbee, disc golf and orienteering. The summer sports festival winds down the weekend of June 25-26 with wrestling, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, bowling and ice hockey at venues across southern Maine.

“We are expecting over 2,000 amateur athletes this summer,” said Scully. “Each year we’ve added events and athletes. This year should be our best ever with the addition of some great sports like swimming and gymnastics. We are open to athletes of all ages, from 3 to those Mainers in their 80s and 90s who want to keep active.”

On Friday, June 24, USA Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner will make an appearance at the Portland Expo, as the Maine Games hosts the first-ever Portland stop for the 21st Nebraska-Maine Friendship Wrestling Series.

Wrestling fans will see up close the legendary grappler, who is the official spokesman for the National Congress of State Games across the country. Maine is one of three state games stops this summer for Gardner.

Complete details, information and registration materials are available at www.mainegames.org.

Jeff Scully is executive director of the Maine Games. For information, call 284-2003 or e-mail info@mainegames.org.