Normally, it isn’t too difficult to find exercise space at the Lied Recreation Center during the summer.

This weekend will be an exception.

The 17th annual Summer Iowa Games comes to Iowa State and Ames this weekend, bringing in an estimated 17,000 athletes to compete in 45 sports.

Early round competition in golf and tennis begins Thursday, although the events officially get under way on Friday.

The traditional torch run from Des Moines to Ames starts Friday at noon at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Mulberry Street in Des Moines. Runners will carry the flame around downtown Des Moines and then up Highway 69, ending around 6 p.m. in Lot B-6 at the Iowa State Center parking lot.

While the torch is on its way, the parking lot will host the “Finals Fest.” The event, scheduled for 5—7:30 p.m., is open to the public at no charge and features entertainment, inflatable games and a meal of pizza, cookies and a drink for $4 per person.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at 8 p.m. inside Jack Trice Stadium, featuring a parade of athletes and the official arrival of the Olympic-style torch.

Simon Estes, a world-class bass-baritone from Centerville, will make the first handoff in the torch run, then come to Ames to speak at the opening ceremony.

“We are extremely pleased to have Simon Estes at our Torch Run and Opening Ceremony,” Iowa Games executive director Jim Hallihan said. “Not only is Simon Estes a superb singer on the international level, he is a tremendous person of great character.”

Usually, Hallihan said, the torch ceremony culminates with the male and female athletes of the year from the previous summer games rushing up and lighting the Iowa Games flame.

However, in 2002, the winners of those awards were Houshang Bozorgzadeh of Independence and Marijane Torjesen of Des Moines.

Bozorgzadeh, a three-time Iowa Games table tennis gold medalist in 2002, was 66 when he received the award, and Torjesen, who won six gold medals in swimming in 2002 despite having just one lung, was 84.

Hallihan said both were capable, but were happy to let another special guest light the flame.

Charlie Wittmack of Des Moines became the first Iowan to successfully climb to the summit of Mount Everest May 22, and Friday he will face a much more hospitable climb to officially begin the games before the opening ceremony concludes with fireworks.

Competition begins in earnest Saturday and continues through Sunday evening, with every sport competing on at least one of those days.

The summer games will continue July 25—27 as well, when adult divisions of flag football, soccer and softball are contested along with sand volleyball.