Not all of the events in the LogistXGames are designed to mimic real-life situations. The box put, for example is just a fun, tongue-in-cheek competition spoofing the nightmares of every logistics manager and shipping customer around the country. Participants in the event took turns hurling shipping boxes as far as they could across the floor of the Northgate Logistics Center during Thursday’s annual event celebrating the growth and professionalism of the area’s packing and shipping industry.

Notwithstanding the levity of the box toss event or the fun that eight teams of up to 10 people each had while participating in the box put and the other competitions — the pallet puzzle sprint, pallet jack relay and the pick/pack hurdle — the annual LogistXGames are evidence of the growing import of this industry in Suffolk.

Whether at Northgate or the CenterPoint Intermodal Center or the Virginia Commerce Center or any of the city’s several other industrial parks, logistics is asserting itself as one of Suffolk’s top 21st-century economic drivers.

According to Lang Williams, its senior vice president in Hampton Roads, commercial real estate services firm CBRE started the games for several reasons, including to promote the importance of logistics, to recognize major logistics employers and their top employees, and to raise money for workforce development.

This year, the games raised $10,000 for the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation’s workforce development programs. The $8,000 that was raised last year allowed the foundation to create an endowed workforce development scholarship.

Such educational initiatives are important if the city hopes to fill the many logistics positions that will be created in the years to come with local residents. And events such as the LogistXGames are important to help promote the industry as one that’s lucrative and fulfilling for those who are employed in it.

Congratulations to the team from the Target warehouse for winning the games this year and to all those who were involved in putting the event together.