LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 34th annual Commonwealth Games is back in town, and about a dozen types of sports will be played in the Hill City this weekend.
“It’s an opportunity for athletes of all ages to be a part of the Olympic movement,” Commonwealth Games Director of Operations and Media Relations, Charity Waldron said.
People from ages 2 to 85 are hitting the court, ready to show what they’re made of.
“I’m really excited because I think we’re actually going to win this year,” Athlete Zion Martin said. “I played the last two years, and we got runner-up, so I think we’re going to win this year.”
It’s not just athletes that are feeling the excitement.
“Local businesses, restaurants, hotels,” Waldron said. “Lot of people are booked up and the restaurants are excited to have everybody in town.”
Last year, over 9,000 athletes participated, generating more than $3.5 million in the Lynchburg area. The year before it generated over $3 million.
Market at Main is one of the local Lynchburg restaurants happy to see more people coming through their door.
“We’ve already seen a positive impact from it, and it shows what having those facilities at Liberty really means for the community,” Owner of Market at Main Rodney Taylor said.
With games going on all weekend, organizers hope you’ll stop by to show your support.
“Everybody has those goals of the gold medal, the silver medal, you know like being an Olympian,” Waldron said. “Unfortunately for all of us, it’s easier said than done, and this is an opportunity to bring that home.”