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Solid Comox Valley contingent heading to BC Winter Games

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The Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games are ready to roll Feb. 25-28.

 

The Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games kick off in less than a month, and 1,738 of B.C.’s best emerging high performance talents have registered and are ready to be part of this celebration of sport and community which runs Feb. 25-28.

The 1,225 athletes are from every corner of the province and have trained to earn a place to represent their zone at the Games.  Competing in 17 different sports, the athletes are an average of 14 years old and for most, this will be their first experience at a multi-sport Games.

 

 

Special Olympians will compete in basketball and figure skating and athletes with a disability will compete in wheelchair basketball and para cross country skiing.

These athletes will be supported by 333 coaches and 180 officials who have earned their certification in order to provide the best knowledge and expertise to the athletes and the competition.

Volunteers in Penticton have been preparing for the past 18 months to host the Games – the fourth time this community has done so.  There will be over 1,800 volunteers working to ensure the participants have exceptional competition and a first-rate experience with Opening and Closing Ceremonies, special events, and wonderful hospitality.

“Penticton is where the BC Games began in 1978, and we are so pleased to be back and benefiting from the history of sport and event hosting in this community,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society.

 

 

“The athletes, coaches, and officials coming to these BC Winter Games are taking their first step towards future national and international level competitions and the expertise of the volunteers will make a mark on their journey.”

The BC Winter Games has been the starting point for many athletes who have gone on to higher levels of sport.  Over 50 per cent of Team BC athletes at the 2015 Canada Winter Games were BC Games alumni.

 

 

Eighteen alumni were part of Team Canada at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games including Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa (ski cross), Summerland’s Justin Kripps (bobsleigh), and Josh Dueck of Vernon (para alpine).

For more information about the BC Winter Games visit BCGAMES.ORG.

 

Comox Valley participants to date (Games organizers note the Participant List and numbers are subject to change until the close of the Accreditation Centre at 5 p.m. on Feb. 25) include:

Comox - Joe Winkelaar biathlon athlete, Angela Chirico diviing athlete, Trevor Nagy gymnastics assistance coach, Erik Ashton skiing alpine athlete, Chuck Ashton skiing alpine adult supervisor, Emily Johnston skiing alpine athlete, Aja Leikermoser skiing alpine athlete, Shelby Nilsen skiing alpine athlete, Stephen Lamon skiing cross country athlete, Tim McGrady skiing cross country head coach, Ben Tibbles skiing freestyle athlete.

Courtenay - Adam Meyer karate assistant coach, Pam Ross karate head coach, Ashton Smith karate athlete, Ian Lehton skiing alpine athlete, Annelies Henckel skiing cross country athlete, Alden Noble skiing cross country athlete, Alexander Swift skiing cross country athlete, Emma Wong skiing cross country athlete, Catrina Krejci skiing freestyle athlete, Peter Stubbs skiing freestyle head coach.

Cumberland - Jairus Ball gymnastics athlete, Kalan Anglos karate assistant coach, Gabriel Gledhill skiing cross country athlete.

Merville - Bryce Benton skiing freestyle athlete.

Black Creek - Alexandra Apedaile karate athlete, Sienna Stephens karate athlete, Taz Oldaker skiing cross country athlete.