By Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- The West Michigan Sports Commission is being honored for the second consecutive year by a leading national publication for its excellence in producing a wide array of local sporting events.

The Sports Commission, whose signature event is the annual Meijer State Games of Michigan, is being recognized with a 2012 "Readers' Choice" Award in the January issue SportsEvents magazine.

The publication cites the Sports Commission's high standard of professionalism and quality service in hosting youth and amateur sporting events in the West Michigan area.

"Our organization is only in its fifth year and has now received this coveted award and recognition for the second year in a row," WMSC executive director Mike Guswiler said in a news release. "The impact we've generated through events we've hosted has topped $70 million in direct spending through the over 200 events and more than 160,000 visitors who have participated in these events."

Nominations for the awards were received from readers throughout the year. Top picks were selected based on results from an online system that registered more than 3,000 votes.

Full Article