Special to the Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

TALLAHASSEE — Regis-tration for the 2008 Florida Senior Games State Champion-ships is in full swing. Prospective athletes have a variety of ways to sign up for the 17th annual event, to be hosted in Lee County and Cape Coral, Dec. 6-14.

It has never been easier for athletes to register in the state’s only senior-oriented Olympic-style Sports Festival.

The easiest way is to visit www.flasports.com and register online. Once athletes create an account, future registrations will be a snap. Once contact information is provided, the Florida Sports Foundation is able to keep athletes posted via email on the latest news.

Another option is to download registration information from www.flasports.com and mail it to the Florida Sports Foundation. Each sport has information posted on the site in pdf files.

Finally, registration books have been mailed to athletes. Seniors who have qualified at local games or have participated in previous Senior Games events will receive a registration book. To receive a registration book by mail, contact the Florida Sports Foundation, toll free, at 1-866-FL-GAMES or send an email request to games@flasports.com.

Deadlines for each sport vary, but applications must be received at the Foundation office in Tallahassee between Nov. 16 and 21. Online registration deadlines fall between Nov. 19 and Dec. 1. Entry fees also vary by sport.

December’s event is a qualifier for the National Senior Games set for the San Francisco Bay Area, Aug. 1-15, 2009.

Most sports of the State Championships require qualifying at a local senior games. Athletes not yet qualified for the State Championships, have five chances in the next month to compete, beginning this weekend with the Gainesville Senior Games.