What are the Big Sky State Games?
The Big Sky State Games is an Olympic-style amateur sports festival for people of all ages and abilities who reside in the great state of Montana. Residents in bordering states that do not have State Games are invited to participate (Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming). The Games are a member of the National Congress of State Games and recognized by the United States Olympic Committee.
The Big Sky State Games has grown since the inaugural year in 1986 when 3,376 athletes participated in 12 sports, to 10,000 athletes competing in 35 sports in 2014. In the past twenty-nine years, over 284,000 athletes from more than 250 Montana communities have participated in the Games. The Big Sky State Games rank number one in the nation in per capita participation.
The State Games concept was developed in New York in 1978 with the Empire State Games. Last year, over 400,00 athletes competed in State Games in 30 states across the nation. State Games feature the sports of the Olympic and Pan-American Games, as well as an occasional local favorite. They attract athletes of a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and skill levels, bringing out future and former Olympians as well as athletes for whom State Games are a real career highlight.
All Our Programs
Our Mission
The Mission for the Montana Amateur Sports/Big Sky State Games is to provide quality competitions and programs that inspire healthy and active lifestyles for ages and abilities.
Our Vision
The Vision for the Montana Amateur Sports/Big Sky State Games is to achieve excellence in sports management and physical activity/nutrition programming.
Get Involved
Big Sky State Games plays a prominent role in healthy lifestyle programming education through Big Sky Fit Kids, Shape Up Montana, Yellowstone Elementary School Cross Country Race, drug awareness programs, scholarship activities, official and coaching clinics. Big Sky State Games is Montana’s sports melting pot, nurturing a unique sense of state pride.
Your support and donations are very much appreciated. Learn more or contact us if you're interested in getting involved with any of our programs, or simply want to contribute.
Big Sky State Games
Olympic-style amateur sports festival for people of all ages and abilities that reside in the great state of Montana and bordering states without State Games.
Shape Up Montana
Shape Up Montana is a fun, interactive 3-month, team-based wellness program that encourages Montanans to develop healthy physical activity and eating habits.
Heart & Sole Race
Annual 5K, 10K, and 2 Mile Health Walk in Billings, MT during Fathers' Day weekend. The race finishes in Dehler Park with the Active Life Festival to promote active families.
Big Sky Fit Kids
The 3-month program is a positive way to teach Montana youth about the importance of being physically active, while increasing the amount of fruit and vegetable servings.
Fit Kids Clubs
Grant program with Montana schools to establish a fitness club that meets outside of school for a total of 90 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week.
YES Cross Country Meet
Yellowstone Elementary Cross Country Meet is one of the largest of its kind. It's open to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in Montana Schools to promote physical activity.