Medicine Hat to Host the 2017 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games
Medicine Hat, Alberta, June 15, 2015: The most exciting and inspiring sports event is coming to Medicine Hat. Special Olympics Alberta is thrilled to announce that Medicine Hat will play host to the 2017 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games. More than 1,000 athletes from all across Alberta will be competing in 11 official sports: 5-pin and 10-pin bowling, athletics, basketball, bocce ball, golf, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball, and swimming.
To commemorate this event, the Special Olympics Alberta President and CEO, Johnny Byrne along with local Special Olympics athletes presented the City of Medicine Hat with the Special Olympics Flag at the city council meeting at City Hall on June 15.
“Hosting Special Olympics is an opportunity to showcase the incredible spirit and amenities of our community,” said Medicine Hat’s Mayor, Ted Clugston.
“We are a welcoming, inclusive and increasingly accessible community with incredible facilities, including the soon-to-be-open Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre, and the expanded Family Leisure Centre.”
Medicine Hat is warm, vibrant, feel-good city, with the attitude and natural backdrop to match. The southeast Alberta city of 61,000 people has a long and successful history of hosting sporting events, including provincial Games, and national and international events.
“The energy and excitement we’ve received from Medicine Hat throughout the bid process has been phenomenal. Having our provincial Summer Games in southern Alberta will allow us to showcase the region and take advantage of the amazing people and facilities that will make this a games to remember,” said Johnny Byrne, President and CEO of Special Olympics Alberta.
“For over 20 years, our Special Olympics program in Medicine Hat has been running a variety of summer and winter sports and has been developing a growing number of athletes. This is a city that has shown great support for the Special Olympics movement and I know that it is ready to welcome our province’s best athletes with open arms.”