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Year #12 1997 In-Line Hockey and Electronic Darts had their debut at the 1997 Big Sky State Games, bringing the State Games event total to 25. Judo was added to the sport of TaeKwonDo and Scholastic Volleyball went to a Regional format. Youth Volleyball had grown to the point that teams were being turned away at the Finals. Regionals were held in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls and Missoula in the month of June. The Opening Ceremonies audience was treated to the unfurling of a football field-size American flag during the National Anthem. The torch lighting was accomplished in similar fashion to the torch lighting at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Archer, Justin Huish, shot a flaming arrow to ignite the symbolic torch and kick-off the Big Sky State Games. Basketball player Cass Bauer and Road Racer Dave Coppock were named the Big Sky State Games Athletes of the Year. The State Games athlete count exceeded 12,000 for the first time, entries were at 12,070. |
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