The Ames community and local businesses are preparing for a profitable and hectic weekend during this year’s Iowa Games.

Jeris Schesser, general manager of Holiday Inn Express Hotels and Suites, 2600 E. 13th St., said this is the first time this particular Holiday Inn will experience the crowd from the Iowa Games, but he expects a big weekend for hotels.

“Most of the hotels in Ames are usually packed for the Iowa Games and other big events that come to Ames, such as the bigger sporting events during a big game,” he said.

Schesser said the Holiday Inn has made certain preparations for the Iowa Games.

“We usually have more people staffed during the Iowa Games because of the number of people who stay with us,” he said.

Jim Hallihan, executive director of the Iowa Games, said there are many athletes who come from around the state to compete.

“There will be around 12,000 athletes,” he said. “We have already had regionals in some sports, like bowling and basketball, so the number is reduced, but the total number of participants we have [across the state] is around 16,000.”

Jan Williams, volunteer coordinator at the Ames Convention and Visitor Bureau, said the city of Ames receives a flood of people during the Iowa Games.

“The Iowa Games brings in 12,000 to 15,000 athletes and you add to that the coaches and parents and Ames really reaps the benefits from the games Thursday through Sunday,” she said.

Williams said many of the local business will gain a nice chunk of summer business during the games.

“Not only does Ames benefit from a hotel standpoint with overnight guests, but we have restaurants and shopping centers that will benefit,” she said.

Williams said the games not only bring out the best athletes, but they bring out the best in the people of Ames, as well.

“Really, the Iowa Games cannot run on the competition alone. We should recognize all the volunteer hours that go into the games,” she said.

Hallihan said a key for the Iowa Games is the amount of volunteer support they receive for the games.

“The toughest thing for us is summer school, because during the winter it is easier to find volunteers with sororities, fraternities, and dorm volunteers, but we have a harder time getting volunteers during the summer,” he said.

Williams said the Iowa Games provides an opportunity for the Ames community to shine.

“The Iowa Games is not only a competition, but a community effort which says a lot about Ames,” she said.

Hallihan said the games will continue to be held in Ames for at least the next five years.

“Ames is where the games started and it is in central Iowa so people do not have to travel to the corners of the state,” he said.

Hallihan said the good volunteer base in Ames is a reason he does not see the games moving anytime soon.

“There is a nice combination of a small community and the university to hold the games,” he said.