Roanoke, VA - The Subway Commonwealth Games kicks off Friday, July 20 with the third year of the Grand Home Furnishings Athlete Tailgate Party bigger and better than ever before.

This year the celebration party is featuring the Washington Redskins 80th Anniversary Thank You tour which will include subs for the athletes from Subway, an inflatable zone, face painting, a first time ever corn hole tournament and much more! The Special Events Center doors open at 4:30 with the Redskins making their entrance around 5:00 pm. There is no cost, so join in, have some fun and meet some former and current Washington Redskins players and their cheerleaders.

The Subway Commonwealth Games of Virginia organized by Virginia Amateur Sports, officially begins on Friday night, July 20 at 7:30pm with the 23rd Anniversary of our Opening Ceremonies at the Roanoke Civic Center. Doors will be opening at 6:00 pm. Join our guest speaker, Olympic Gold Medalist Speed Skater Joey Cheek, as he addresses the athletes, their families and guests in giving his motivational testimony. Much like the Olympics, this colorful and festive ceremony will include the parade of athletes, pyrotechnics, Miss Virginia, the lighting of the cauldron, and the Rise Above BMX Bike Show.

This weekend offers competition in 20 different sports with basketball being held in a number of gyms, NSA girls’ softball being held at the Moyer Complex, Botetourt Complex, Northside High School, Green Hill Park and at Darrel Shell Complex. track and field at William Fleming High School, girls’ field hockey at W&L University, karate at West Salem Elementary School, and bowling at the New River Valley Superbowl facility in Christiansburg. Archery will be held at Green Hill Park, and Auto Cross at Virginia Tech are a few more of the events and locations of the sports being played this weekend.

More than 2,000 athletes have competed in events held prior to this weekend that included adult softball, tennis, USSSA baseball, baton twirling, youth swimming in Waynesboro and figure skating in Virginia Beach.

The 23rd Anniversary of the Subway Commonwealth Games of Virginia is proving to be an exciting one as 9,500 athletes are expected to compete in 55 sports and events that are being offered this year. Since the Games inception in 1990, more than 191,000 athletes have competed in the Games.

Ticket prices for Opening ceremonies are $6 for adults and $4 for students 6-12; free to children under age 6. Gold medal passes cost $15 and will allow entry to all sporting events and to Opening Ceremonies.

For more information, please visit our website at www.commonwealthgames.org or 1-800-333-8274.