One Year Out: Preparing for the 2026 Medicine Hat Summer Games!
We’re a little over a year away from the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games 2026, and Medicine Hat’s dedicated team is already working hard to prepare their host city for a week of summer sport competitions!
Kara Brake—Games Manager for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026—talked in an interview about what the Medicine Hat Alberta Games Society Host Organizing Committee is doing to prepare for the upcoming competition. Also an employee of the City of Medicine Hat, Kara is dedicated towards “all aspects of planning” for the 2026 Games.
The Games Staff is coordinating with various sport chairs who make sure everyone is on the same page, figure out transportation, book hotels (along with caterers for hotels that do not have their own), and gather physical equipment, on top of other logistics. Soon, The Medicine Hat host organizing committee will be looking to recruit volunteers as well. This is a vital part of running the Games, and one that Kara isn’t too worried about.
“What’s unique in Medicine Hat,” she said, “is there’s a lot of pride in this city. When we have an event, we have volunteers come in the thousands.”
Kara recalled working for the 2017 Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Games, which needed around 1,000 volunteers. They surpassed that margin by so much, the host organizing committee needed a wait list for all the new people looking to help. The people of Medicine Hat are still just as eager to volunteer, with Kara saying that they are already getting calls from people interested in volunteering for the 2026 Games.
“Another thing that has always been normal to us,” Kara said, referring to Medicine Hat, “that we didn’t realize is unusual, is all our community partners work together.”
She said the tourism industry, Accommodation Association, Chamber of Commerce, and City of Medicine Hat government all collaborate towards a common goal, including hosting a nationwide Games. Kara said different organizations within the city avoid arguing about who pays for what, instead agreeing to a mutually helpful approach. For example, Medicine Hat College, schools, and various private venues within the city are willing to open their facilities to those who need them during competitions.
Later this year, the Medicine Hat Alberta Games Society Host Organizing Committee will be hiring local athlete ambassadors. These ambassadors will be chosen from people who participate in regular Medicine Hat programs and will help the city make decisions around spending money, as well as improving the experience for attending athletes.
Kara added that — to avoid conflict of interest — none of these ambassadors will be competing at the National Games, meaning her team has to wait until Special Olympics Canada reveals who is registered for the event. She also stressed how invaluable the input of these ambassadors is, for how the Games will be run.
Stay up to date as the Games get closer by following @socsummergames on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.