If you’re between the ages of 2 and infinity, you’re a candidate for the 24th annual State Games of Oregon, slated for July 11 and 12 across a variety of venues in the greater Portland-Metro area.

But you’d better get on board soon, as the registration deadline is quickly approaching (for more information about online registration, go to www.stategamesoforegon.org). Entry forms are also available at local parks and recreation offices.

As far as events are concerned, what’s your cup of tea? Everything from adult softball to bowling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, shooting, skating, swimming, tennis and track and field are offered. All told, 38 sports are featured in this year’s games — including pickleball, lacrosse and water polo.

The Games are offered through the Oregon Amateur Sports Foundation (OASF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting “the ideals of health, wellness and a sport for all Oregonians.”

When the organization was founded in 1986, a total of 11 sports drew 4,000 athletes to the inaugural event. Now, the current menu of 38 sports will attract what organizers hope will be more than 12,000.

Often referred to as “Oregon’s Olympics,” event officials can brag that the games make up the largest multi-sport event in the state — and what makes the games so popular is the fact that the annual event is open to Oregon athletes of all ages and skill levels.

So, if you want to compete against other amateur athletes in your favorite sport, get signed up now and mark July 11 and 12 on your calendar.

Middle school sports programs suffer during economic downturns

Although the economic downturn — i.e., “major recession” — is showing signs of recovery, many school districts have already trimmed and adopted their annual budgets in preparation for the new fiscal year, which starts in July.

The budget “trims” range in scale from small to large, depending on the district, but many cuts have affected middle school sports programs. In fact, some will go unfunded in the coming year, meaning that local citizens will have to pay the tab to float programs.

Already, due to budget restraints over the last few years, many coaches have become unpaid volunteers, especially at the middle school level. While that’s okay — if the coaches are willing to work for free — now it appears that some middle school programs will be dropped or cut back severely unless the public steps up to donate funds for equipment, transportation, game officials and other necessities.

While some communities have consistently depended on local businesses for the “extras” — an outfield fence or dugouts for the baseball or softball field, for example — remember that local merchants have been hit hard by the recession, too. Many don’t have money to donate.

That leaves program fees for participation as the quickest solution to the funding problem, unfortunately, which might keep families with several kids left on the outside looking in.

Most of this money, of course, will come out of the pockets of parents who still have kids in the various programs and are willing to pay higher fees to provide equipment — especially safety equipment like up-to-date helmets in football, for example.

Obviously, no one wants to send a young athlete into action without the best safety technology that can be provided.

Another solution to the funding shortage is to ask district patrons — not just parents — to step up to the plate and donate a few bucks for middle school programs in their communities, programs that have been impacted by budget cuts.

One of the most effective fundraising campaigns — and one that’s much more fair than just showing up at someone’s door and putting the hand out — is to offer a product in return (forget the candy sales; other organizations have already cornered the market). One high school had its baseball team go door-to-door and take orders for boxes of oranges, for example.

Or, how about the promise of a glossy picture of the team signed by all of the athletes? That would make a nice keepsake for the wall or desk. Again, the exchange of a few dollars for an inexpensive product like a team picture might just help fill the coffers, if the school district’s policies allow for such a transaction.

Because some districts frown on certain types of fundraising campaigns, check with school officials first.

But if state funds for education keep getting whacked by sharper and sharper knives each year, fundraising might be a way of life for many middle school — and even some high school — sports program.

If you have an idea for a column or feature story or a comment, contact me by e-mail at jwalker@newsregister.com or by phone at (503) 472-5114, ext. 333.