Kamloops This Week
The B.C. Winter Games will be held in Kamloops in 2018 and there should be a solid contingent of athletes from the region ready to take part.
During a press conference on Friday, Jan. 25, just outside the McArthur Island Sports and Event Centre, Kamloops was named host of the event by Kamloops-North Thompson Liberal MLA Terry Lake.
In the audience were many athletes who took part in the first BC Winter Games, hosted by Kamloops in 1979.
Their legacy, Lake said, was the determination that grew in the city to first become known in the province as the place to go for sports events and, later, as the Tournament Capital of Canada.
Celebrating that history will be important when the four-day Games begin on Feb. 22, 2018.
Lake noted 40 B.C. athletes at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in London had once competed in the BC Winter Games.
The 2018 BC Winter Games in Kamloops will see more than 2,100 athletes, coaches, and officials visit from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25.
Sport venues will include the Tournament Capital Centre (gymnastics), the Thompson Rivers University gym (badminton), McArthur Island Sports Centre (curling, figure skating and speed skating), Interior Savings Centre (hockey and ringette), Memorial Arena (hockey), Sun Peaks (alpine and freestyle skiing and biathlon), Stake Lake Ski Trails (cross-country skiing), South Kamloops secondary (judo and karate), Pacific Way elementary (archery) and NorKam secondary (netball).
The cost of hosting the Games will be covered by the province, which kicks in $525,000, and the city, which adds a minimum of $45,000 cash and $50,000 in kind.
The Games are expected to provide about $2 million in economic impact to the city.
Athletes competing will range in age from 10 to 19.
The province’s summer and winter competitions are held every two years.
The 2014 BC Winter Games will be held in Mission and the 2016 edition in Penticton. Last year’s BC Winter Games were held in Vernon.
Kamloops-Thompson school district is expected to provide 25 buses to transport athletes and officials throughout the Games and 10 city transit buses will be available to pitch in for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The school district has also resolved to provide school facilities for competition and accommodation, buses and, if necessary, enact a two-day school closure for the Thursday and Friday of the Games.
CUPE 3500 will give its members the opportunity to volunteer. Bus drivers and custodians to maintain schools will likely be required.