Status Inactive Most recent 2012 (2012) | Founded 1996 | |
Location(s) East Dublin, Georgia, United States | ||
The Redneck Games were held in East Dublin, Georgia, annually from 1996 until 2012. The games were started by Mac Davis, a local person who was the general manager of radio station WQZY-FM "Y96". Some American media reacted to the news that Atlanta had won the bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games by saying the event would be organized by a group of rednecks. The games were created to help children's needs. Around 5000 people turned out for the first Redneck Summer Games – over twice the population of East Dublin. Events include Mud Pit Belly Flop, Bobbin' for Pig's Feet, Redneck Horseshoes, Hubcap Hurl and the Armpit Serenade.
Contents
The games received coverage from Good Morning America, Life, Maxim, MTV Road Rules/Real World Challenge, The Tonight Show, ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC, and Fox.
In 2001, Drew Scott of Wild Country 96.5 "borrowed" the games to set up a fundraising event for the Franklin County NY Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each year, these games have increased in size of the event, crowds and monies raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2010, marking the ninth year of the Annual Redneck Games in Malone, New York, the entertainment was Cledus T. Judd.
Due to declining revenue, attendance, and sponsorships, the Redneck Games were canceled in 2013. The site of the games, Buckeye Park, was under scrutiny from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division for bacterial contamination of a nearby creek and the Oconee River, but city officials asserted that the games' cancellation was not for this reason.
Events
Some events that were held during the Redneck Games included:
For each of the events, a trophy is awarded; a half crushed, empty mounted beer can.
Canadian version
The games have now become so popular that they have spread to Canada. Minto Canadian Redneck Games had taken place in Minto, Ontario, since 2006. Events include Mud Pit Slip & Slide, Bobbin' for Pig's Feet, Mud Pit Tug-of-War, Mud Pit Belly Flop Contest, Redneck Horseshoes, Hubcap Hurl, Mud Pit Volleyball.