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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

A fond farewell to fun and Games

Volunteers get special tribute as meet closes

By: Jeff Hamilton

Posted: 07/22/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Westman's Quinton Hunter goes for a layup against Central in the bronze-medal under-16 boys basketball game. Central won 80-66. (COLE BREILAND / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Swan RIVER -- There was a collective sigh followed by roaring applause as thousands showed up to watch the last flame of the 2012 Manitoba Summer Games flicker out, putting an end to the sports extravaganza.

Athletes, coaches, fans and volunteers gathered at the AG Grounds in Swan River to celebrate the successful completion of the province's largest ongoing multi-sport event.

"We've received many compliments, and it all comes down to our volunteer group," said Paula Norman, co-chair of the Games. "We're really, really ecstatic on how the week turned out and we just hope that everyone had a memorable experience."

It's safe to say many will never forget the seven-day event, which had everything from torrential rainfalls and tornado warnings to a local state of emergency due to a faulty sewage lift station.

But despite the curveballs from Mother Nature, it was a home run for the host town and all who were involved leading up to Saturday's farewell.

A special honour was given to the volunteers during the closing ceremonies as mention of their hard work prompted a standing ovation lasting more than a minute for a job well done by the more than 1,200 who made the Games possible.

"I'm kind of at a loss for words," said an emotional Swan River Mayor Glen MacKenzie. "I think it's typical of what the Swan Valley is all about. "None of those people are getting paid. They gave freely their own time to look after the kids and run the venues, and that's just the type of people we have here."

Volunteers helped out by keeping score, attending to the various needs of athletes in the villages and feeding more than 1,600 athletes three meals a day.

Norman said the challenges were great at times, but she never feared, knowing the strength of the group she was working with.

"Our volunteers and our board wanted to make sure that no matter what, we did everything we could to keep the Games going. We literally had volunteers vacuuming grass and sucking up water and everything imaginable that you never thought would ever happen, and we did it.

"Our main focus was always on keeping the kids going, and I think despite everything we did a great job of that."

A total of 363 medals were won during the week, honouring athletes across seven regions competing in 10 different events. There were two additional awards given out at the closing ceremonies. Team Norman received the Larry Desjardins Award, given to the team displaying the highest level of sportsmanship throughout the Games. Team Westman won the J.A. Ernst Award, a recognition of how hard they rooted for one another.

Winkler will host the 2014 Manitoba Winter Games.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Medal count

GoldSilverBronzeTotal

Winnipeg Gold37322190

Winnipeg Blue24331471

Central15142251

Norman1491841

Westman5122037

Eastman179531

Interlake781126

Parkland34916

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 22, 2012 B7

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