Athletes Head To Triangle To Compete In State Games

Thousands of athletes and coaches have converged on the Triangle for the 2000State Games. This weekend, more than 11,000 athletes will compete in a variety of sporting events.

Cynthia Parker and her family drove from Jacksonville to see some basketball action. She says she is not missing a beat and she is staying the entire weekend.

"We're super-supportive families and super-supportive fans cheering on our boys," Parker says. "These guys are together 12 months of the year playing basketball. They're excited."

The State Games is a chance for athletes to take a shot at tournament play. The athletes range in age from 3 to 86 years old.

Marcus Covington plays high school baseball. He says the state games are a chance to show others what you are made of.

"It's important because it's the first step to becoming a good baseball player before college and everything," Covington says.

The games are supposed to bring in more than $5 million to the Triangle. They will be held in the area for the next two years.