Over the past two years, the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games have set record figures in number of athletes taking part in the games as well as total visitors to the host location.

For the third year in a row the Grand Canyon State Games called Fountain Hills and the Fort McDowell Reservation home and, for the third year in a row, all records have been broken.

The Lori Piestewa National Native American Games are open to the 511 tribes throughout the United States. This year, before the event kicked off, the games were estimated to draw more than 2,000 athletes out of the total 3,500-plus total expected guests.

According to Executive Director Erik Widmark, this marks the seventh year in a row the games have seen growth in all areas.

This year, 2,022 athletes took part in basketball, softball, volleyball, track and field, baseball and weightlifting competitions.

There were a total of 79 basketball teams, 34 softball teams, 22 volleyball teams, five baseball teams (new to the Games), and 70 cross country and track athletes.

According to Widmark, the 2008 Lori Piestewa National Native American Games were the most successful yet, and he credits much of that to the Games’ host locations.

“I want to make sure I give thanks to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Town of Fountain Hills, the Salt River Pima Tribe, and the Fountain Hills School District for their hospitality,” Widmark said. “It was superb. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Absent from last year’s competition due to family issues, Widmark said this year’s Games had several very special guests.

“A special, heartfelt thank you goes out to the Piestewa family -- Terry, Percy, Carla and Brandon,” Widmark said. “Their presence cast a special feeling over the entire weekend.”

SPC Lori Ann Piestewa was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend, Jessica Lynch, was injured.

A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first woman killed in the Iraq War in 2003 and was the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military.

For more information on the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games or any other of the Grand Canyon State Games events, visit gcsg.org or call 517-9700.

The Grand Canyon State Games provides a showcase for the talents and aspirations of amateur athletes, regardless of age or ability, and is one of the largest amateur sports festivals in the United States.