When Tom Osborne took over as president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corp. in 2003, he told The Gazette that the Rocky Mountain State Games were a “magical program that has the potentially to really get the whole state excited.”

Well, Osborne went beyond the Colorado borders.

Under his direction, the Sports Corp. has brought the State Games of America to Colorado Springs twice. They’ll be coming again next summer. Just last month the Sports Corp. brought the State Games of the West to Colorado Springs.

“He’s a guy that gets people excited about sports here,” golf legend Judy Bell said. “He’s interested in sports across the board, and he’s got a lot of talent.”

The mission of the Sports Corp. is to attract sporting activities to the city and support them as well as the sporting activities already in the city.

However, in attracting sports to the city there is an economic impact that can’t be ignored. The 2005 State Games of America brought an estimated 25,000 people and their wallets to Colorado Springs for a week.

“Tom Osborne has shown over the last 20 years, not only his commitment to sport, but has really come into his own as president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Sports Corp., in encouraging organizations to be part of the fabric of Colorado Springs,” El Pomar chief Bill Hybl said. “In helping individual athletes and teams, Tom and the Sports Corp. has really been at the forefront of sports and has made a real difference in the Pikes Peak region.”

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