And much, much more.

The Outdoor Games are the first event to bring all of these active outdoor athletes together and give their sports an unprecedented venue for exposure and revelry.

They are for every wingshooter who ever doubled on a covey rise or watched with pride as his retriever brought a downed duck back to the blind… every weekend angler who has ever dreamed of competing in the CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic… every occasional archer who has ever sent an arrow through the bullseye… every fly caster who has ever made the perfect cast to the right spot in the quiet pool of a trout stream and was rewarded with the strike of a big rainbow or brownie… anyone who has ever chopped firewood in the backyard while pretending to race against the clock or some unseen opponent… or every couch potato who has ever watched log rolling on television and thought, "I could do that."

This global gathering of outdoor athletes is where individual dreams come true, and it involves athletes of all sizes — male and female, two- and four-legged.

Although the competitions within the Great Outdoor Games are fierce, there is a prevailing atmosphere of camaraderie and fellowship that is missing in most big-time sporting events. There is a relaxed, fun attitude among the athletes, who can often be found lurking as enthusiastic spectators at other, different events.

Champion bass angler and 2001 silver-medallist Gary Klein speaks for the other athletes when he says: "The Games are so much fun… Probably the most special thing about going to the Games is all of the other events that are taking place while we're there. I'm an outdoor enthusiast, so I'm interested in the dog trials, the log rolling, the wood chopping, the shooting events and the archery."

In addition to the actual competitions, the Games are unique in their active involvement of its spectators. Fans can try their hands at interactive archery, speed climbing and log rolling; get casting and fly-tying instruction; watch demonstrations of eagles and other birds of prey; visit an Olympic Museum; learn about shooting safety and techniques; and enjoy a variety of activities like puppeteers, airbrush artists, magicians and inflatables.

And unlike other major sporting events, the Games are free to the public.

July 11-14, top outdoor athletes from 39 states, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada and New Zealand will gather at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. to compete in the world championship of outdoor sports. The event features one-of-a-kind, head-to-head competition in timber and target events, sporting dogs, and fishing.

While entertaining large crowds on site, the ESPN Great Outdoor Games also draws a worldwide television audience airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports beginning July 20.