You don’t need to look at a schedule or attendance statistics to realize the Iowa Games is still growing in size and scope.

The sight of the organization’s office in the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons provides all the evidence of that.

Monday afternoon, volunteers crowded around a folding table covered with (to the untrained eye) random stacks of entry forms.

The people pushing the papers about, though, seemed purposeful (and moved quickly), so there was plenty of work being done.

The weekend event has more than doubled in size since its first year, attracting more than 17,000 participants for its 2002 Summer Games. The competitions in a wide variety of sports at the Iowa Games are modeled after the Olympic Games.

As more athletes attend, and more sports and divisions are added to the competition, the Iowa Games strains the traditional Friday-Sunday timetable of the events and requires more and more facilities on the ISU campus and in Ames.

This year’s competitions are scheduled from July 18—20, but the 2003 Iowa Games will be far from over at sunset on July 20.

Growth is one factor in four sports this year being contested the weekend after the main events. Adult flag football, adult soccer, adult softball and sand volleyball (a new offering) will all take place from July 25—27.

“I knew we’d have to go to two weekends,” said executive director Jim Hallihan, a former ISU associate head men’s basketball coach who has been with the Iowa Games since 1994.

He said there will be benefits for many parties with the move, which has been taking shape in past years.

“We’ve looked at the sports that use the most facilities and the most officials,” he said.

Moving adult sports one week after their youth counterparts relieves stress on those facilities and officials, Hallihan said, and also allows active parents to be coaches of their children’s teams on the first weekend, before competing the next weekend.

“It’s an advantage for everyone,” he said. “You can allow more teams to come.”

Amy Wilson, assistant director of operations, said she currently expects about the same number of competitors as last year, although registrations are still being processed, and several sports allow late registration.

Activities begin Saturday night with the 5K and 10K road races in downtown Ames as part of Midnight Madness.

Distinguished opera star Simon Estes will be featured as guest speaker and singer at the opening ceremonies, scheduled for 8 p.m. July 18 at Jack Trice Stadium, officials announced Tuesday.

Opening ceremonies will also see the conclusion of the annual torch run from Des Moines to Ames. Charlie Wittmack, a Des Moines man who became the first Iowan to scale Mount Everest earlier this summer, will light the Olympic-style flame.

Until then, Hallihan’s staff will keep busy preparing for the burst of activity July 18.

For information about when and where competitions will happen during the next two weekends, visit the Iowa Games Web site at www.iowagames.org.