The New Mexico Games is finally at full strength for 2022 when it comes to a jam-packed year full of sports events. The most iconic of the Games is the return of the Memorial Day weekend basketball tournament held every year – except when there’s a pandemic — in Albuquerque.

The tourney tips off Friday and runs through Sunday (May 29).

It has been three years since the New Mexico Games held its last basketball tournament, which was in 2019. COVID stopped the basketball tournament from happening in 2020 and the state of New Mexico didn’t open early enough in 2021.

The New Mexico Games have bounced back with strength by surviving a pandemic and a beneficial change in leadership direction back in 2020. 21 sports have been slated to take place in 2022 with Ninja USA which already took place back in April.

Since 1989, the New Mexico Games has made it a point to provide sports competitions to all New Mexican’s throughout the year and 2022 marks the 33rd year the Games will take place.

The tournament will run at University of New Mexico’s Johnson Gym. There are 14 divisions slated to take the court including High School, Men’s and Women’s open, as well as the top gun teams in the Men’s Open. Basketball fans are invited to come and watch all the action all weekend long which will feature competitive teams contending for gold medals.

“It’s been a long and difficult road to get to where we are today, but with the efforts of our board of directors and volunteers, we’ve made it,” said Executive Director Andres Trujillo. “Our basketball tournament has always been synonymous with Memorial Day Weekend basketball in New Mexico and we’re excited!”

New Mexicans can sign up to compete in the 2022 Games by visiting newmexicogames.org.