Thursday, April 11, 2013
For Immediate Release
2015 Canada Winter Games and BC Games Society work together for Games' Futures
Prince George, BC- For the first time in Canada Games’ history, a Canada Games Host Society is working with a provincial Games organization for the betterment of both by sharing transfer of knowledge and identifying best practices.
The 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BC Games Society. The agreement creates a partnership between the two sport organizations with these shared goals:
• Sharing of resources and information – institutional Games knowledge
• Reducing budgets by sharing physical sport infrastructure and equipment
• Cross-promotion through communication and events
“This partnership makes perfect sense,” explains CEO of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Stuart Ballantyne. “Already the 2015 Canada Winter Games and the BC Games share a common goal: to promote amateur sport and support young athletes in their quest to be Canada’s next great champions. So for us to share institutional knowledge and resources—both human and physical—is the right thing to do.”
The BC Winter and BC Summer Games have taken place in British Columbia since 1978 in 38 different communities and have involved over 350,000 participants and volunteers.
"Over time, there has been a great investment in the knowledge and inventory acquired by the BC Games Society," said President and CEO Kelly Mann. "It is an honour to build this partnership and share resources as a way to better the Prince George 2015 experience for young Canadians. Collaborating with the 2015 staff and volunteers will surely pay dividends to future BC Games as well."
The BC Games are a training ground for young athletes with approximately 50% of the athletes who compete for Team BC at a Canada Games having previously attended a BC Games. These alumni bring with them a distinct advantage of having a previous multisport Games experience that compliments their training preparation. Ultimately, the BC Games and the Canada Games are an important pathway to develop our next Canadian Olympians and Paralympians.
About 2015 Canada Winter Games
The 2015 Canada Winter Games will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event to ever be held in Prince George and northern British Columbia and is forecasted to generate an economic impact of $70 - $90 million while building champions and inspiring dreams amongst Canadian youth. Athletes from ten provinces and three territories will compete in 19 sports with the dream of becoming Canada’s next champions. In 2015, choose your path, leave your tracks, and journey with the 2015 Canada Winter Games as we host the nation and share a northern story with all of Canada.
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Media Contacts
Alyson Gourley-Cramer
Manager, Communications & Community Relations
2015 Canada Winter Games
250.961.5366 (call or text)
agourley-cramer@canadagames2015.ca
www.canadagames2015.ca
@CanadaGames2015
Lia Threlfall
Manager, Communications
BC Games Society
250.387.4688 desk
250.812.3887 cell
liat@bcgames.org