FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louise Heine
Destination Marketing Director
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 109 or louise@yorkpa.org

Brent Burkey
Communications Specialist
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 103 or bburkey@yorkpa.org


YORK, PA- Pennsylvania's largest amateur athletic festival, the Keystone State Games Festival of Sports Presented By York College of Pennsylvania, will be held in York County July 29-August 2, when thousands of athletes from across the Mid-Atlantic region will go for the gold in dozens of sports.

Registration is under way for the Festival of Sports, which this year introduces special divisions for first responders called the America's Finest Games. The Keystone State Games Festival of Sports welcomes competitors from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, West Virginia, Ohio and Washington, D.C. Baseball, field hockey and ice hockey are only open to Pennsylvania residents.

Since its inception, Keystone State Games, Inc. has attracted hundreds of thousands of athletes in various age groups to its events. York County will host the festival not only this year but for three summers through 2017. York also hosted the event for six years through 2010.

York College of Pennsylvania, a private college in south central Pennsylvania offering more than 50 baccalaureate majors with an emphasis on practical application, is rolling out the red carpet for athletes with a special website welcoming competitors at www.ycp.edu/keystone and by hosting several of the festival's sporting events at its top-tier athletic facilities.

"York College has previously hosted events during the Keystone State Games. We are delighted to expand our role this year and serve as Presenting Sponsor for the Games. We, too, share a desire to promote physical fitness, healthy competition and an active lifestyle for not only our students, but for the community in which we live," said York College President Pamela Gunter-Smith.

In addition to its important and generous support as Presenting Sponsor, York College of Pennsylvania hosted the special announcement event in April 2014 unveiling that the Keystone State Games Festival of Sports would return to York County.

"Community partners such as York College of Pennsylvania are vital components of the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Sport York initiative," said Anne Druck, President of the York County CVB. "We thank the College and all of our sponsors for their support as we bring the Keystone State Games Festival of Sports back to York County and welcome thousands of participants for a spectacular experience."

The event is anticipated to generate more than $10.2 million in total economic benefits for York County this summer.

The Keystone State Games are a result of a resolution introduced by Representative Joseph R. Pitts (Chester County) and approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1980.

Keystone State Games, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, was formed in 1983, with the help of former Governor Richard Thornburgh, so the Games would not be solely dependent on government funding. This year will be the 34th Annual Festival of Sports - as well as the first for the America's Finest Games.

For registration information, a list of sports being offered, background on the Keystone State Games, and specific information and eligibility for the America's Finest Games, visit www.premiersportingevents.com.

York College of Pennsylvania offers more than 50 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences and humanities to its 4,600 undergraduate students. The College also offers master's programs in business, education and nursing, and a doctorate in nursing practice.

York College's students enjoy a high-quality education that emphasizes practical application and a community invested in their success. The College provides a personal plan to help students focus their passions and attain their goals so they are prepared for a lifetime of meaningful careers - ready to meet the challenges of their profession and feeling confident and proud of their achievements. For more, visit www.ycp.edu.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Sport York initiative is designed to recruit events and generate additional economic impact in York County. Sport York positions York County as Pennsylvania's Premier Sports Destination, highlighting the area's dynamic facilities and central location on the East Coast. For further information about Sport York, visit www.yorkpa.org/sports.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB's Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.