Over 1,800 participants– including 38 from the Comox Valley – have registered to take part in the 2014 BC Winter Games which run Feb. 20-23 in Mission.
A total of 1,344 athletes will be supported by 346 coaches and 156 officials during the four-day event.
The athletes are from every corner of the province and have trained to earn a place to represent their zone at the Games. Competing in 18 different sports, the athletes range in age from nine to 17 (in able-bodied sports). Athletes with a disability will compete in wheelchair basketball, Special Olympics basketball, para-alpine and para-nordic (cross country ski) events.
Volunteers in Mission have been preparing for the past 18 months to host their first-ever BC Games. There will be up to 2,000 volunteers working to ensure the participants have exceptional competition and a first-rate experience with opening and closing ceremonies, special events, and wonderful hospitality.
“The future of sport in B.C. is coming to Mission and we are looking forward to seeing these young athletes compete to the best of their ability,” said Kelly Mann, president and CEO of the BC Games Society. “The BC Winter Games are the first step towards national and international level competitions where we see BC Games alumni taking centre stage.”
The timing of the BC Winter Games this year is particularly exciting as it coincides with the final weekend of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Ten BC Games alumni will be competing for the Canadian Olympic team including 2010 Olympic gold medalist Maëlle Ricker (snowboard), 2011 world champion Kelsey Serwa (skicross), NHL star Carey Price (hockey) and former track and field standout turned bobsleigh driver Justin Kripps.
Carrying the Comox Valley colours as part of the Vancouver Island-Central Coast (Zone 6) contingent are:
Courtenay – Nicole Adebar (biathlon athlete), Jordan Koster (curling athlete), Kaylee Guignard (gymnastics athletes), Toni Vance (gymnastics head coach), Natalie Bridges-McInnes (karate athlete), Todd Roberston (karate head coach), Pam Ross (karate assistant coach), Payton Sylvester (karate athlete), Trudy Barr (ringette assistant coach), Kylie Barr (ringette athlete), Anya Boisvert (ringette athlete), Cole Champis (ringette athlete), Carson Gall (ringette athlete), Brent Gall (ringette adult supervisor), Lindsay Gammon (ringette athlete), Gabrielle Guay (ringette athlete), Marley Harrison (ringette athlete), Haley Hill (ringette head coach), Sierra Murphy (ringette athlete), Reine Minter (alpine skiing athlete), Rachel Beech (cross-country skiing athlete), Madeleine Guimond (cross-country skiing athlete), Tallon Noble (cross-country skiing athlete), Matthew Salmon (cross-country skiing athlete), Eva Salmon (cross-country skiing athlete), Maya Swift (cross-country skiing athlete), Peter Stubbs (freestyle skiing head coach).
Comox – Greg Ladret (figure skating head coach), Sophia MacIntyre (karate athlete), Sophie Groves (ringette athlete), Julie Langevin (alpine skiing adult supervisor), Ava Langevin (alpine skiing athlete), Kieran Nilssen (alpine skiing athlete), Ross Lamon (cross-country skiing athlete), Tim McGrady (cross-country skiing head coach), Connor McGrady (cross-country skiing athlete).
Cumberland – Rayna Cruickshank (hockey adult supervisor).
sports@comoxvalleyrecord.com