The Iowa Games is a staple of summertime in Ames.

The main weekend for the 2018 Summer Iowa Games is July 20 to July 22.

The Iowa Games is a statewide Olympic-style competition consisting of Iowans of all ages and abilities.

There are two Iowa Games in a year, one in the winter and one in the summer. The Iowa Summer Games consists of 50 events in Ames and a few other cities around central Iowa.

Some of the facilities that will be hosting the events include Cyclone Sports Complex, Lied Recreation Center, SE Athletic Complex and Hunziker Youth Sports Complex.

The Iowa Games started as a one-weekend effort in 1987. The event has grown to more than 60 sports and events, hosting participants from all 99 Iowa counties some years.

Last year, the Summer Iowa Games hosted 12,917 athletes with 98 of 99 counties represented, according to the Iowa Sports Foundation’s annual report.

The main weekend features the Athlete Jamboree and Opening Ceremony. Last year, the Summer Iowa Games hosted NCAA Wrestling Champion and Olympic hopeful, Kyven Gadson, as the keynote speaker.

This year’s opening ceremony takes place on Friday, July 20, at Jack Trice Stadium. The keynote speaker for the summer games is Drake Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jennie Baranczyk.

The entertainers at the opening ceremony are Breaksk8. According to iowagames.org, Breaksk8 is “a jam-skating group that break-dances on roller skates! They are the official skate team for the NBA, NCAA, and WNBA games.”

The Athlete Jamboree will be held at Jack Trice Stadium as well. The jamboree begins at 5:00 PM and concludes at 7:30 PM on July 20. Information on parking, admission and other important information can be found online at https://www.iowagames.org/athlete-jamboree/.

“All Iowa Games events have free admission for athletes and spectators,” according to https://www.iowagames.org/faqs/.