In 2016, Marquette was recognized for its deep love of winter sports when it was selected as the winner of Kraft Hockeyville USA. It didn’t take long for Marquette to be recognized once again, as it has been selected as a host site for the 2022 Meijer State Games of Michigan — Winter Games.

Announced by the Michigan Sports Alliance on Monday, the games will take place in February 2022, with Travel Marquette serving as the host organization.

“We are thrilled to host the February 2022 Meijer State Games of Michigan — Winter Games and be part of such an incredible sporting tradition within our state,” Travel Marquette Executive Director Susan Estler said in a news release. “The Upper Peninsula’s landscape has long been celebrated for its diverse offering of outdoor adventure, and we look forward to safely welcoming athletes from across the state to share in this uniquely Michigan experience.”

Bringing the games to Marquette was a collaborative effort between Travel Marquette, the Great Lakes Sports Commission, the Michigan Sports Alliance and MSGOM, organizers said.

The Meijer State Games of Michigan first took place in 2010 as a summer edition, which drew over 3,500 athletes from across the state to participate in 15 different sports.

A winter variation of the games was added in 2014 with 12 sports and more than 1,600 athletes participating, turning it into a bi-annual event. Since its inception in 2010, the games — traditionally in Grand Rapids — have hosted more than 65,000 athletes and have had a $25 million impact on the state’s economy.

Participation in the games is open to everyone, organizers said.

“The Meijer State Games of Michigan is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event that welcomes athletes, regardless of age or ability level and embodies the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living among Michigan residents,” the release states.

Marquette’s inaugural event will feature cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, natural luge, hockey, ski and snowboard, and ski jumping. The competitions will be hosted by local organizations that include the Ishpeming Ski Club, the Marquette Curling Club, the Marquette Figure Skating Club, the Upper Peninsula Luge Club, Marquette Junior Hockey, Marquette Mountain and Suicide Hill Ski Bowl.

We are glad to see Marquette get the recognition it deserves, and we are certain that the event coordinators will be pleased with their decision to host the games here.

For more information on the Meijer State Games of Michigan, go online to www.StateGamesofMichigan.com.