The legacy from the 2002 Nanaimo BC Summer Games is legendary with more than $200,000 injected back into the community. 2002 remains the largest community legacy in BC Games history. Sport organizations benefited with new infrastructure, equipment and dollars for sport related projects. The 2014 numbers are still being tabulated, yet with nearly $1 million dollars raised, it is safe to say the sport community will benefit significantly from these Games.
“Sponsors and the community rallied together to make these Games a tremendous success.” Says Rod Milner, Director of Friends of the Games. “We asked and the business community responded in a big way, with everything from batteries to busses.”
Food services was a major undertaking; preparing 40,000 healthy meals in four days. When the Games ended four community organizations along with four families in need benefitted from unused food. Quality Foods, Country Grocer and Fresh Point came together to feed the athletes and volunteers throughout the Games.
Capacity building within the community was a key focus of these games. The Games in partnership with the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice offered free concussion training. Coaches, parents, first responders and medical practitioners of all stripes attended, building bridges across professions.
“The quality of the sessions led to increased awareness, assessment and treatment during the Games,” says Dr. Lorne Goodall medical director for the BC Summer Games. “These sessions are a living legacy which will improve concussion management in the central island area for years to come.”
The final tally on the 2014 BC Summer Games legacy is expected this fall.