The Georgia State Games were created in 1989 as part of the effort to win the bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games. The largest program administered by the Georgia State Games is the Georgia Games Championships. The Championships is an Olympic-style multi-sports festival that holds events and tournaments in about 50 different sports, each held at a different venue. Known as the "People's Games" the
Championships are open to Georgians of all ages and skill levels. The purpose of the Georgia State Games Championships is to provide Georgians with a program of physical activity by encouraging involvement in amateur sports. In addition to the Championships, the Georgia State Games administers other programs, such as the Educational College Internship Program, National Governing Body Sports Development Programs, Economic Development Consulting, the District Sports Festival, Sports Demonstrations, Sports Clinics, and the Mascot Public Appearance program. The Georgia Games belong to a national membership association called the National Congress of State Games (NCSG). State Games programs exist in forty states and involve a total of 500,000 participants, 1.2 million spectators, and 100,000 volunteers each year. State Games competitions are held in over 536 communities with participants coming from over 6,000 cities and towns.
