Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)

More Than 11,000 Participants Head to Des Moines for 15 Sports Competitions at the AAU Junior Olympic Games

07/23/2018

More than 11,000 participants will travel to Des Moines beginning this week for the 52nd annual AAU Junior Olympic Games, the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States.

Athletes from 46 states expected to compete in largest multi-sport event in the country; 10-day competition has brought more than $50 million to previous host cities since 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa (July 24, 2018) – More than 11,000 participants will travel to Des Moines beginning this week for the 52nd annual AAU Junior Olympic Games, the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States.

The 10-day event, July 26-Aug. 4, will feature 15 sports competitions, including the AAU’s marquee track and field event at Drake Stadium on July 28-Aug. 4. Nearly 250 AAU Track and Field national records have been set and reset at the Games since 2011 with 25 records established during the 2017 Games in Detroit. The event has brought in more than $50 million in economic impact to previous host cities since 2010.

“We are incredibly excited to bring the AAU Junior Olympic Games back to Des Moines,” said Paul Campbell, who has served as Chairman for the annual event for the last 25 years. “This event is really the crown jewel of the AAU, not only because of its prestige and popularity in the youth sports community, but because of the first-class cities that have hosted the Games over the last 52 years.”

The AAU Junior Olympic Games have been conducted in 19 states and 30 cities across the United States since 1967. As one of the premier events in the nation, youth athletes have used the event as the starting point to an ultra-successful professional career.

Notable AAU Junior Olympic Games alumni include: Jackie Joyner Kersee (track and field), Carl Lewis (track and field), Greg Louganis (diving), Kathy McMillan (track and field), Charles Foster (track and field) and Ezekiel Elliott (track and field).

Visit www.aaujrogames.org for more information about the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

Media interested in covering this event should contact Cody Norman, AAU Public Relations Manager at cnorman@aausports.org.