Star of the North Games

The Star of the North Games is Minnesota's own Olympic-style multi-sport event. Each year, a different Minnesota community hosts the Games. In 2011, St. Cloud will host the Games for the sixth time. The number of sports varies from year to year, usually between 18-24. The number of athletes also varies from 4,000 to 6,000, usually due to the host location and the number of courts and fields available.

When coaches, referees, family members and spectators are included, the Star of the North Games will bring 8,000 to 10,000 people to St. Cloud for the 2011 Games.

 

Some of the largest Star of the North Games sports are team sports, such as volleyball, soccer, lacrosse and basketball. Individual sports like track and field, road racing and figure skating also draw several hundred athletes each. The Star of the North Games also takes pride in offering growing and developing sports such as BMX cycling, adventure racing and pickleball.

The emphasis is on friendly, participatory competition. While the Star of the North Games does draw some participation by elite athletes, the emphasis is on participation and sportsmanship. Most athletes like the Games because they say it's "fun."

 

The Star of the North Games is a member of the National Congress of State Games, a national organization of 31 State Games organizations around the country. Medalists in the Star of the North Games qualify for the State Games of America, a national championship event that is held every two years.

The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission has promoted the Star of the North Games each summer since 1988 as part of its mission to provide sports opportunities for Minnesota residents.