It takes a large number of volunteers to make the Iowa Games run smoothly and executive director Jim Hallihan says they are always looking for more. The first of three weekends of competition begin this Saturday.

Hallihan says they have more athletes and sports than the Olympics and he says the volunteers are the”backbone” of the Iowa Games.

Haiihan says for anyone still interested in volunteering their time they should contact the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Hallihan says it is also a large chore to find officials for more than 60 sports. He says they send out hundreds of cards to umpires and officials to ask them to volunteer and then they schedule the officials.

More than 15,000 athletes are expected to take part.