Nanaimo 2014 BC Summer Games

Focus  The BC Summer Games provides a competitive multi-sport environment that supports the development of athletes, coaches, and officials as they move on to higher levels of competition.  The BC Games contributes to the development of sport and communities through infrastructure updates and improvements, volunteer engagement and skill enhancement, and large-event hosting experience.

Participants  There will be as many as 2,914 athletes, 583 coaches, and 408 officials attending the Games from across BC.  Participants compete for one of eight zones.  19 sports are included in the BC Summer Games.  The age range is specific to each sport. The average age of participants is 14.8 with a range from 10 years to 19 years for able-bodied sports.  Athletes with a disability will compete in athletics (Special Olympics), equestrian (Para), and swimming (Para and Special Olympics).  One coach with each zone team is fully certified at NCCP Level 2 (or equivalents) coach in the sport they are coaching at the Games.

Nanaimo 2014 BC Summer Games  July 17-20, 2014  29th BC Summer Games

Major Games Events  Opening Ceremony – Thursday, July 17  Competitions – Friday, July 18 until noon Sunday, July 20  Participant Special Events - Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19  Closing Ceremony – Sunday, July 20

The Volunteers  President, Jeff Lott, and Vice President, Bruce Hunter, will lead the Board of Directors for the 2014 BC Summer Games  Directors working in 14 Directorate areas will coordinate approximately 125 volunteer Chairs, each of whom has a committee of volunteers responsible for different aspects of the Games planning and operation.  An estimated 3,200 volunteers will be involved.

Funding  The Province of BC through the BC Games Society provides base funding of $600,000 for the Nanaimo 2014 BC Summer Games.  The City of Nanaimo is providing $45,000 cash in addition to in-kind services through the support of staff and the use of its facilities.  School District #68 is providing school classrooms as dorms for housing Games participants, facilities for sports and other events, and buses for transportation.  Corporate Partners provide cash and in-kind services.  Friends of the Games – local business and industry contribute cash and in-kind goods/services.

Corporate Partners  Jazz Air  Global BC  Black Press / Nanaimo News Bulletin  Coast Capital Savings

Funding Partners  Province of BC  City of Nanaimo  School District #68  Vancouver Island University

Legacy of the BC Games  A community celebration, community pride  Trained and enhanced skill development of community volunteers  Development platform for BC athletes, coaches, and officials o BC Games is the stepping-stone to national and international competition and to the Canada Games and Olympic Games for many athletes, coaches, and officials. . This includes Olympians Brent Hayden (Swimming), Carol Huynh (Wrestling), Brent Seabrook (Hockey), Denny Morrison (Speed Skating), Maelle Ricker (Snowboarding), and Paralympians Bo Hedges (Wheelchair Basketball) and Josh Dueck (Alpine Skiing) . BC Games alumni with impressive results on the world stage include Ryder Hesjedal (Cycling) and Justin Morneau (Baseball)  Economic impact to the community o $2.6 million (Kelowna 2008 BC Summer Games)

Interesting Tidbits  Volunteers will prepare over 32,000 meals in four days.  Over 2,100 medals will be awarded in 290 medal presentation ceremonies  During the Games weekend, the transportation system required to move participants around the host community ranks as the fourth largest transportation system in the province. (Surrey 2012 BC Summer Games).  3,500 foam mattresses are part of the Games inventory and will be used as beds for participants.  The first BC Games were held in 1978 in Penticton.  Nanaimo previously hosted the BC Summer Games in 2002 and 1985 and the BC Seniors Games in 2007.