While some people will gain comfort indoors and take refuge from the increasing summer heat over the next month, many North Carolina residents will venture out and compete in the 20th State Games of North Carolina, taking place June 2 to 25 in Cary and surrounding areas.

Created and organized by North Carolina Amateur Sports, the State Games of North Carolina is a large Olympic-style amateur sporting event that includes many sports, ranging from baseball to disc golf and figure skating.

Chris Hofler, an event coordinator for North Carolina Amateur Sports, said the purpose of the State Games is to promote and encourage healthy activity.

“The Games are an Olympic-style amateur sports event for North Carolina residents of any age, with the purpose of promoting fitness, physical activity and good health,” Hofler said.

Hofler said age was not a requirement to be a part of the State Games.

“Last year we had a three-year-old girl compete in the gymnastics competition and a 64-year-old woman compete in our bowling competition,” Hofler said.

Special this year, North Carolina Amateur Sports used an endowment fund to pay for 130 children, each of whom are a part of the Boys and Girls Club, to participate in the State Games.

Ragan Williams, another event coordinator for North Carolina Amateur Sports said the money will cover the costs for each child.

“The endowment fund will fund the entry fee for the Games, hotel costs and transportation costs for all 130 children so that they can compete in the track and field competition,” Williams said.

Members of the N.C. State Track and Field team will be meeting with the children at Cary Academy one night to provide instruction on track and field technique.

N.C. State’s Doak Field will be used for the Games high school baseball showcase, which takes place June 21 to 25.

Sherry West, marketing coordinator for North Carolina Amateur Sports, said the high school baseball showcase is usually a crowd favorite.

“The showcase is considered to be an elite tournament throughout the state,” West said. “Players are invited to try-out for the teams. They are some of the best players in the state.”

Hofler said they already had a great turnout during the first weekend of the State Games, and said they are excited about the potential of this year’s activities.

“Despite the rainy weather this past weekend, we had a record 134 individuals participate in the tennis tournament,” Hofler said. “We are expecting a record-breaking year in the overall number of participants.”