More than 14,000 amateur athletes of all ages - including many from the Triangle - are expected to converge in and around Charlotte for the Powerade State Games of North Carolina.

Opening ceremonies take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the Paladium at Carowinds theme park, and competition ends June 27.

The Olympic-style festival will include a variety of age and skill levels in baseball, basketball, BMX, cycling criterium , disc golf, fencing, figure skating, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, karate, lacrosse, mountain biking, soccer, softball, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, track and field and wrestling.

Roller-coaster fans, get ready to ride a few hours west.

Carowinds announced today that it will add a $23 million ride next season named after NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt that will be “the Southeast's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster.”

At 23 stories high at its tallest peak, “The Intimidator” will be Carowinds' tallest ride, The Charlotte Observer reported. It will have seven steep drops – one for each of Earnhardt's NASCAR championships – and travel at a maximum speed of 75 mph.

Carowinds says it will last more than three minutes and have the “intensity of a fast-paced NASCAR race.”

The amusement park, located about 15 minutes south of Charlotte, is adding attractions to lure visitors during the economic downturn.