2018 BC Winter Games wrap up in Kamloops
Author: BC Games Society/Sunday, February 25, 2018/Categories: 2018 News, 2018 BC Winter Games
After four days of exciting action, the 2018 BC Winter Games wrapped up in Kamloops. Over 1200 athletes competed in 19 sports at venues throughout Kamloops and Sun Peaks representing their home zones with determination and pride.
The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia attended the Games and spoke at the Closing Ceremony.
“How many people does it take to put on a BC Winter Games? It takes everybody, it takes a community. This is a wonderful way to build community in this great province of B.C. and Kamloops has a wonderful reputation of tremendous engaged volunteers. These young athletes will go back to their communities, having made new friends, seeing a new area of the province, and many will go home with medals. The duration of the contest is but a few minutes while the training takes weeks of years of hard work and exercise and self discipline.
The applause soon dies away; the prize is left behind, but it is the character you build that will be yours forever. You are all champions. “
Her Honour presented Kamloops gymnast, Rebecca Wharton with the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence which includes a $2500 bursary to support her future sport expenses.
Canada’s Tournament Capital lived up to its reputation staging a high quality event for British Columbia’s emerging high performance athletes. A volunteer force of 1800 people worked tirelessly throughout the event to ensure the best possible experience for everyone involved.
“The last few days have flown by and we have immensely enjoyed having you here,” said President of the 2018 BC Winter Games, Niki Remesz. “You played hard, you had huge determination and excitement, and you lit up this city! On behalf of our Board we wish everyone safe travels home and we invite you to come back again to make more moments in the mountains.”
It was particularly fitting that the BC Games finished at the same time as the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. 16 BC Games alumni were part of Team Canada including gold medalists Justin Kripps (Bobsleigh) and Kelsey Serwa (Ski Cross). The BC Games are the starting point for many athletes as they pursue their goals and dreams of one day representing Canada on the world stage.
“The athletes will leave the BC Games with new friendships, with successes, and with a new a determination to chase a dream that is truly within their grasp,” said Kelly Mann, President and CEO of the BC Games Society. “Sport builds so much more in us than just physical well being. It rounds us out as people; it helps us build friendships and memories that last a lifetime.”
The BC Games flag was passed to Jennifer Woike, President of the Cowichan 2018 BC Summer Games that will take place July 19-22.
Full results can be found at https://www.bcgames.org/Games/ResultsandParticipantLists.aspx
Photos can be downloaded on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgames/albums