Aflac Outdoor Games Return to Columbus for a Second Year

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac announces it will be the title sponsor for the 2009 Aflac Outdoor Games held on June 19-21. For the second consecutive year, the popular three-day event will take place at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.

Aflac Outdoor Games is a combination of several events including the Collegiate and Professional Championships of the STIHL(R) TIMBERSPORTS(R) Series, a competition consisting of eight disciplines that challenge competitors' strength, endurance, stamina, tool skill and agility. The saw chips fly, and the competition is fierce. In fact, last year during the Aflac Outdoor Games, New Zealander Jason Wynyard broke the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS world record in the stock saw discipline, making three cuts through a foot-wide log in just under 10 seconds.

"Last year was a tremendous success for everyone involved," said Paul Amos II, president and chief operating officer, Aflac U.S. "Aflac is very pleased to return as the Outdoor Games' title sponsor and to help bring this quality family event back to our hometown."

"Our athletes were impressed with the hospitality Aflac and Columbus showed last year, and we are excited to bring the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series back to be part of the Aflac Outdoor Games," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. "With the level of competition growing each year, fans can be assured that this year's professional and collegiate championships will be the most exciting yet."

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series is broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU, which will bring national exposure to the region. For more information on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series, visit www.espnoutdoors.com/timbersports.

Among the events making an encore performance at the Aflac Outdoor Games will be the Pig Bowl, a national and local barbeque cooking contest. The Kansas City Barbeque Society, an organization that has sanctioned almost 300 barbeque contests throughout the United States, has put its seal of approval on the professional portion of the Pig Bowl competition to be held during the Aflac Outdoor Games. The local contest is open to amateur cook teams from the Valley area. Dog dock diving will be back with a new event called Ultimate Air Dogs. Agility Dogs and Flyball also return. There will be a designated area just for kids with the Knology Family Zone, a place for small ones to climb, bounce, draw, and many more activities.

In addition to the events back from 2008, the Aflac Outdoor Games will host two new entries - the Georgia State Frisbee Dog Championships and the Extreme Power Sports Archery Challenge. These competitions were created to add more quality events to an already robust lineup.

"We're very excited about planning for the 2009 Games. The success of last year's event generated a great deal of interest for the 2009 Games," said Warner Neal, president of Outdoor Events.

"Bringing back last year's events and adding events we feel will be fan favorites in 2009 should make this even more appealing to everyone in the Valley area. The benefits to the area are immense. There is the obvious economic impact and, the exposure Columbus will gain from the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series being broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU. It's a win-win for the Valley area for sure."

Advanced tickets per day are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Admission is free for children under 5 years of age. Family and military rates are also available. Tickets can be purchased at all area Piggly Wiggly and Lewis Jones stores.

For more information on the events -- including registering for some of the events -- please visit AflacOutdoorGames.com.

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