The classical games Ian Smith gets excited over (8)
I believe the answer is:
isthmian
'the classical games' is the definition.
(Isthmian Games, ancient Greek sporting event)
'ian smith gets excited over' is the wordplay.
'gets excited' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'getting excited' mean this).
'over' says to put letters next to each other.
'smith' anagrammed gives 'isthm'.
'ian' after 'isthm' is 'ISTHMIAN'.
(Other definitions for isthmian that I've seen before include "Relating to a neck of land - mini hats (anag)" , "person from Panama, say" , "old games" , "Ian Smith? (Anag)" , "in the games in Greece" .)