Twenty-five athletes will be representing Grande Prairie at this year’s Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games in Calgary. Competing in four different sports, they will join around 800 others from 64 communities across Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan. Special Olympics Alberta President and CEO Johnny Byrne says the games are designed to bring people together.
“Our Provincial Games is a unique opportunity to bring together our Alberta communities and create an inclusive and competitive experience showing the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.”
Athletes will compete in 7 winter sports including 5-pin bowling, alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing, and speed skating. These games are used as a qualifier to decided who will compete for Team Alberta at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The games are the largest sport event for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the province. They will run from February 8th to the 10th.