Tropical Games continue to grow
By: David Fox, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2005

Boxing will be the first sport added to the Tropical Games of the Palm Beaches.

And if all goes as planned, it won't be the last.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission's games, which begin Saturday at the South Florida Fairgrounds, added boxing to its lineup of nine sports and have plans to expand again in 2006.

"We're continuing to grow," said Graham Morris, the Sports Commission's director of operations. "It looks like we are on target."

In its inaugural event last year, the Tropical Games featured chess, fencing, judo, karate, power lifting, table tennis, tae kwon do, weight lifting and wrestling.

By next year, the Sports Commission will expand to a second site at Florida Atlantic University. The additional facilities mean team and water sports could join the Tropical Games.

While organizers have plans for 2006, they expect continued growth in this year's event.

They estimate the Tropical Games will attract about 800 athletes, nearly doubling the 425 who participated last year.

Most participants are from Florida, but the Sports Commission reached out to the national governing bodies of each sport, such as USA Boxing and USA Wrestling, to attract a national pool of athletes.

The Tropical Games are open to all ages and skill levels.

"It can be the young athlete that's just starting to learn the sport," Morris said. "Or it can be the one looking to move past the club level and break out."