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 Year #20 2005 In 2005, the Big Sky State Games celebrated its 20th Anniversary with 10,391 athletes from 250 communities participating in 35 sports and 2,500 volunteers. The Big Sky State Games stands as the largest State Games per capita in the nation. In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Big Sky State Games, organizers conducted a statewide torch relay (May 18 -25) as they did in the inaugural. The relay traveled through more than 30 communities, trading hands with more than 200 torchbearers. LifeCenter Northwest was the presenting sponsor of the Torch Relay with special assistance from Kampgrounds of America and First Interstate Bank.
Women's Ice Hockey Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Cammi Granato was the special guest athlete to light the Big Sky State Games torch during Opening Ceremonies. Summer Biathlon and Weightlifting was added to the line-up bringing the total to 35 sports. Summer Biathlon was held on July 10 at the Bohart Cross Country Ski Center just north of Bozeman. Pat Jaffary (Road Race) and Lewis Elliot (Road Race, Cycling, and Triathlon) of Billings, were named the Big Sky State Games Athletes of the Year and Soccer team Onyx was named Team of the Year following the 2005 Games. This award recognizes the top athletes of the Big Sky State Games who best personify the ideals of participation, effort, sportsmanship, and positive attitude. The Big Sky State Games Character Counts! Scholarship continued for the sixth year and was awarded at Opening Ceremonies to Ashley Grammens of Lavina and Chad McMillan of Billings. Both Grammens and McMillian were juniors in high school during the 2004/2005 school year. The Character Counts! Scholarship is an annual award designed to promote sportsmanship. Applications/nominations forms are available each year at the Big Sky State Games office. The Athlete Assistance Program continued for the fifth year assisting athletes that might not be able to enter the Games due to financial hardship. Shape Up Montana, a team wellness program of the Big Sky State Games had a total of 2,342 participants. The Activity teams logged over 554,292.83 miles (22 times around the world) during the 3 month contest. The Weight Loss teams shed 1,620 of fat. All SUM participants were automatically entered into the Fitness Walk during Opening Ceremonies. Big Sky Fit Kids the youth component of Shape Up Montana was launched in February and ran in conjunction with SUM. BSFK is a free program encourages youth teams (school classes, 4-H clubs, after-school programs, church groups, etc.) to increase their individual physical activity levels in an accumulated activity contest. BSFK finished with 3,841 participants. Big Sky State Games office awarded 3 $500 grants to drawing winners to be used to promote physical activity and healthful nutrition. Go The Distance Day was also introduced. GTTD is a free one day event. Schools planned a 30-minute segment of consecutive aerobic activity. Those schools that had 100% participation were put into a drawing to win 1 of 3 $500 awards.
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