2008 Saint Paul Star of the North Games, presented by Toyota

What exactly is the Star of the North Games?
- The Star of the North Games is Minnesota's own Olympic-style multi-sport event. Each year, a different Minnesota community hosts the Games. In 2007, Rochester will host the Games for the seventh time. The number of sports varies from year to year, usually between 18-24. The number of athletes also varies from 6,000 to 9,000, usually due to the host location and the number of courts and fields available.
  
  When coaches, referees, family members and spectators are included, the Star of the North Games will bring 12,000 to 16,000 people to Rochester over the two weekends of the Games.
  
  The emphasis is on friendly, participatory competition. While the Star of the North Games does draw some participation by elite athletes, the emphasis is on participation and sportsmanship. Most athletes like the Games because they say it's "fun."
  
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When are the Games held?
- The Star of the North Summer Games are annually held on the third and fourth weekends of June. The dates for the 2007 Games will be June 15-17 and 22-24. The two-weekend format is dictated by the heavy -- and conflicting -- facility needs of two of the largest team sports: volleyball and basketball. Since both use the same indoor court facilities, it is necessary to schedule those sports on separate weekends.
  
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Which sports are part of the Star of the North Games program?
- Here is a summary of the annual sport program for the Star of the North Games:
  Archery
  Baseball
  Basketball
  Basketball Hot Shot
  Billiards
  Bowling
  Disc Golf
  Diving
  Family Eco-Adventure Triathlon
  Figure Skating
  Golf
  Gymnastics
  Lacrosse
  5k Road Race
  Soccer
  Softball
  Swimming
  Tennis
  Track and Field
  Volleyball
  Weightlifting
- Here is a listing of additional sports that are potentially part of the SOTN program. These sports can be held at the option of the local organizing committee.
  
  Adventure Race
  Aggressive Skating
  Badminton
  Beach Volleyball
  Biathlon (summer)
  BMX Cycling
  Bocce
  Canoe/Kayak race
  Duathlon/Triathlon
  Horseshoes
  In-Line Speedskating
  In-Line Hockey
  Martial Arts
  Rowing
  Rugby
  Shooting
  Trail-Run
  Tug-of-War
  Ultimate Disc
  Volkswalk, Fitness Walk
- Over 85% of the Star of the North athletes participate in the following sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, track and field and figure skating.
  
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What are the past and future host cities?
- Here is the roster of past host cities.
  1988: St. Cloud
  1989: Burnsville
  1990: Rochester
  1991: Blaine/Coon Rapids
  1992: Moorhead
  1993: Twin Cities North Metro
  1994: Rochester
  1995: Roseville
  1996: Moorhead
  1997: St. Cloud
  1998: Brooklyn Park
  1999: Rochester
  2000: Roseville
  2001: Rochester
  2002: St. Cloud
  2003: Rochester
  2004: St. Paul
  2005: St. cloud
  2006: Rochester
  2007: Rochester
Here is a schedule of future host cities.
2008: Saint Paul
2009: St. Cloud
2010: Rochester
2011: St. Cloud
2012: Rochester
2013: Saint Paul
2014: St. Cloud
2015: Rochester
2016: St. Cloud
2017: Rochester

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Do all states have a State Games?

Most, but not all. Forty states currently organize statewide sports festivals known as State Games. Modeled after the Olympic Games, State Games provide a motivational goal for all athletes within the state in which they are organized. Nationwide more than 90 sports are offered each year in State Games with competitions held in 536 communities for participants from over 6,000 cities and towns. Competitions are both recreational and competitive and have been the first step for many Olympic and professional athletes.

All the State Games across the country, including the Star of the North Games, are members of the National Congress of State Games (NCSG). The NCSG is a membership organization comprised of 40 Summer State Games and 14 Winter State Games organizations and a community-based member of the United States Olympic Committee. The NCSG provides education, national contacts and resources, and organizes the State Games of America (see below.)

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Is there a national championship for State Games athletes?

If you win a medal in a qualifying sport in the Star of the North Games in 2007 or 2008, or in the 2007 State Games of America then you qualify to participate in the 2009 State Games of America (SGA) — an opportunity to represent Minnesota and showcase your abilities at a national level.

Colorado Springs , Colorado will be the host of the 2007 and 2009 State Games of America. Colorado Springs hosted a very successful Games in 2005. The dates for the 2007 Games are tentatively set for the first weekend in August. Venues will include the United States Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Phil Long Expo Center, the World Arena, and the US Olympic Training Center, all in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Registration materials for the 2007 SGA are currently available.

The State Games of America is held every two years, and several cities are bidding to host the 2011 State Games of America.

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What is the benefit to Rochester of hosting the Star of the North Games?

Each host community has some different and unique reasons for hosting the Star of the North Games. Here are some of the most compelling reasons:

1) Economic impact: The Star of the North Summer Games annually produces an average of over $2 million of economic impact for the host community. Major revenue is generated in hotel/motel bookings, restaurants, and other retail sales.

2) Showcasing a city's sport, recreation, and cultural facilities: Thousands of the state's most influential coaches, athletes, and athletic administrators, and legislative leaders attend the Games. It's a great way to showcase the city’s facilities and market Rochester for future sports events, clinics, conventions, and meetings.

3) Enhancing a community's sport-organization infrastructure: In many communities, the most irreplaceable legacy of the Games is an organizational infrastructure of knowledgeable volunteers, standing committees, and community partnerships that make it feasible to host future sports events of all sizes.

4) Opportunities for local athletes: Hosting the Star of the North Games will give Southeast Minnesota amateur athletes the chance to compete with a "home field advantage," and to show off your city's athletic prowess with pride. By hosting the 2006 Star of the North Summer Games, Rochester athletes are able to compete in a large, prestigious statewide event without traveling -- a real benefit to teams and athletes who often spend much of each season "on-the-road" traveling to out-of-town tournaments, races, and meets.

5) Fund Raising: Most cities use excess funds generated by the Star of the North Games to help fund on-going amateur sport programs in their community -- or to provide start-up money for a local amateur sports commission or event-host committee. Since 1994, each host LOC has at least broken even financially, with all but one turning a profit. The profits have ranged from $7,000 to over $40,000. Most LOC’s budget for a profit of approximately $10,000 - $20,000.

6) Cooperative project with the MASC: The Star of the North Games is one of the premier programs of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, a state agency dedicated to developing economic impact through amateur sports programs and facilities. The MASC also

Administers the "Mighty Ducks" ice-arena grant program, and the new "Mighty Kids" program-oriented grants. Rochester area arenas and organizations have received grants from both organizations.

Built the Super Rink, a "quad" (four-sheet) ice arena at the National Sports Center.

Periodically seeks state capital bonding dollars for the construction of major amateur sports facilities around the state.

Supports bids for major national and international sports events

Provides some direct staff support for communities producing significant international amateur sports events.

By working with the MASC on the Star of the North Games, Rochester will open the doors to other cooperative sports-programming efforts in the future.

7) Statewide publicity: In addition to having Rochester featured in all pre-event publicity, it will be "DATELINE ROCHESTER" on all media results, published statewide for two consecutive weekends.

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Where do the registration fees go?

All the registration fees go directly to help underwrite the operating costs of the Summer Games. The income from athlete registration fees make up about two-thirds of the total revenue of the Rochester Local Organizing Committee (LOC). It is the philosophy of the Star of the North Games board that the athletes themselves fund the major portion of the expense of staging the games. However, every effort is made to keep the entry fee as reasonable as possible. That's why LOC's will always need to raise additional revenue.

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What are the major sources for additional revenue?

There are three additional areas that LOC's use to generate funds to support the Games: 1) sponsorship, 2) royalties from merchandise and concession sales, and 3) revenue from the $7 all-events passes. In general, an LOC's success in sponsorship sales will ensure a financially successful event.

An LOC will probably need to raise at least $10-$20,000 in local sponsorship to ensure a comfortable operating profit margin. Revenue from all-events pass sales should be in the $30,000 - $40,000 range.

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What happens to any losses or profits?

The contract between the Star of the North Games, Inc., and the local organizing committee of each host community is financially self-sufficient. The host committee retains any profits from the Games. Similarly, the host LOC is responsible for covering any losses incurred in hosting the Star of the North Games.

Since 1994, each host LOC has at least broken even financially, with all but one turning a profit. The profits have ranged from $7,000 to over $40,000. Most LOC’s budget for a profit of approximately $10,000.

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Isn't this a State of Minnesota event?

The statewide program of the Star of the North Games is administered by the Star of the North Games, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The State Games was created by the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC), a state agency. Staff members and paid interns of the MASC administer the on-going sports program, recruit statewide sponsors, and provide support to the LOC volunteers. However, no direct state funds are spent on the Star of the North Games. In fact, due to legislative funding cuts mandated by the 2003 and 2005 Legislatures, the Star of the North Games will be asked to contribute financially to the agency budget of the MASC.

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What benefits does the Rochester LOC receive from the Star of the North Games staff and the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission?

The Rochester LOC receives significant direct service from the Star of the North Games and MASC staff. Here is a sampling of those services:

1) Training, education, and consulting: In addition to formal educational events, the MASC staff makes frequent community visits, and is readily available for telephone consultation and assistance.

2) Sport program: The staff is responsible for maintaining the on-going sport program, including relationships with Minnesota's sport associations, policies on age groups and competition divisions, and advising and supporting each sport director in the operation of their event.

3) Registration processing, Software and Computer: The Star of the North Games will receive and process all registrations. Updated registration information (lists of registrants) is available any time a sport director or local organizer needs them. Additionally, the staff will manage registration check-in and train local support volunteers.

4) Sport Commissioner Program: In five of the largest sports (soccer, volleyball, basketball, figure skating and track and field), the Star of the North Games board has appointed sport commissioners to assist the LOC in producing these complex sports. Each of these commissioners is extremely knowledgeable in their particular sport. They maintain a year-round presence for the Star of the North Games within that sport, which helps in calendar scheduling and athlete/team recruitment. Additionally, all commissioners will be present on-site to administer the tournament or meet, assist and support the local sport director during the actual event.

The Star of the North also appoints a headquarters commissioner to administer all HQ operations, train and support volunteers, and improve support to LOC staff.

5) Statewide Promotion: The Star of the North Games staff distributes general awareness brochures, posters, and registration materials to parks and recreation centers, schools, community education offices, retail outlets, and other high-traffic locations.

6) Media Operations and Results Reporting: The State Games media staff writes and distributes news releases to media outlets all over the state. During the Games, the media staff will be based at the Games headquarters in Rochester to operate the press operations center. Results in all sports are collected, posted on the website, and sometimes faxed and distributed to media outlets all over the state.

7) Star of the North Games Website: Included is information on all the sports, registration forms, background information on the Games, hotel lists, schedules, and a guide to Rochester. When schedules are finalized they are published on the website first.

During the Games, results are updated on the website every few hours throughout the two weekends of sports events.

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I'm just a recreational athlete. Is there a place for me?

Most Star of the North Games sports offer different age and/or ability categories. The emphasis is on participation and friendly competition. For those reasons, many sport organizers consider the Star of the North Games an ideal event for the first-time or casual competitor. However, that doesn't mean that all sports are open to first-timers. Due to safety regulations and state and national governing body rules, some require membership in that sport's governing body and/or the completion of a safety or training program. Still, the Star of the North Games makes every effort to be inclusive, rather than exclusive. We want to spread the word that sports are fun, and there's a sport for everyone.

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What if an athlete can't afford the registration fee?

The Star of the North Games board offers a registration assistance program to assist youth athletes and teams needing scholarship help. This program is limited to athletes 18 years of age and under. Athletes interested in applying for the RAP program should call the State Games office at (763) 785-5678 (Twin Cities Metro Area) or 1-800-756-STAR (Greater Minnesota).

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What are the greatest volunteer needs for the LOC?

Due to the complex organizational needs of the Star of the North Games, LOC's have volunteer needs in many different areas. Some of the areas of greatest need are in:

1) Venue managers and facility hosts. Each sports venue is staffed with a venue manager on duty at all times competition is held.

2) Sport volunteers, especially in track and field, figure skating, swimming, and the largest multi-venue team sports: volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

3) Athlete registration and check-in

4) Venue and sport set-up, including delivering supplies and equipment to gyms, fields, and courses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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