Last week around 32 athletes from around the country participated on the 2010 Dixie Games, the event was hosted for the first time by the City of Tampa in conjunction with Hillsborough County Parks Recreation & Conservation Department, and Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay.
The Dixie Games where held from May 6th through May 9th across the following venues:
• Embassy Suites - USF
• Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex
• All People's Life Center
• University of South Florida
Various athletes ranging from junior athletes to paralympians competed in the following sport events:
• Archery
• Shot put
• Discus
• Javelin
• Long Jump
• High Jump
• Triple Jump
• Club Throw
• Softball Throw
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Track
• Weightlifting
• Fencing
The top junior athletes who win at their sporting category will qualify to participate in this years National Junior Disability Championships that will be held in Chicago from July 17th through July 24th, where about 250 athletes from 35 states will be competing. Adult athletes competing at the Dixie Games where looking to meet qualifying standards to compete in this years paralympic trials that will be held in the City of Miramar, FL from June 18th through June 20th.
Dixie Games Fencing Finals
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Fencing match between Jim Chaney (left) and Curtis Lovejoy (right). LoveJoy would move on to the finals
Ryan Estep watches as two adult athletes compete to see who he will be challenging in the finals.
Ryan Estep (Left) and Curtis Lovejoy (Right) get strapped in before beginning their bout.
Ryan Estep (Left) leans in for a strike against Curtis Lovejoy (Right)
The room filled with silence as Ryan Estep (Left) and Curtis Lovejoy (Right) fence.
Victorious, Curtis Lovejoy smiles ask he takes off his glove for a handshake.
Dixie Games Table Tennis
Junior athlete focuses on returning a serve from her opponent.
Ron Richardson, a member of Amputees Together Florida, participates in the games as a score keeper
Junior athlete is interviewed directly after her match.
All People's Life Center's gymnasium is bustling as the athletes prepare for their next match.
Andres Velasquez (Left) from 360oandp.com interviews Andy Chasanoff, the Sports Coordinator for Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay.