Empire State Games Suspended

The Empire State Summer Games have been suspended.
    
A day after event officials said the amateur athletic competition was unlikely to happen this year, the ESG Web site has been updated to say the games are off.
    
Officials at the state parks department -- which oversees funding for the games -- still aren't commenting. But they had told athletes and anyone else interested to continue checking the Web site for updates.
    
Games officials have notified coaches they won't be needed this summer.
    
The state eliminated $1.7 million in funding for the event this year and told athletes they'd have to pay $285 fees to play. That upset organizers and participants.
    
The parks department is seeking private sponsors to help reinstate the summer games in 2010.