Reflecting on Canada Summer Games

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/08/2017 (3189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Barry Moroz, 63, of Portage la Prairie, recently experienced the busiest few weeks of his life.

As Team Manitoba’s Chef de Mission for the Canada Summer Games, his role was liaison between the Canada Games council, Manitoba sports associations and Winnipeg host committee.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Moroz said.

While he said there were a few hiccups during the first days of the Games that ran from July 28 to Aug. 13, all problems were soon resolved.

“From an overall standpoint, the Games were great,” he said. “The whole community really embraced the Games.”

He estimates that between 20,000 and 30,000 people came to Winnipeg, Gimli and Kenora, Ont. to support athletes from their home provinces. He said the number of local residents who came out to cheer on Team Manitoba competitors was fantastic.

He is very proud of all the Manitoba athletes who won a total of 42 medals — the highest ever number of medals for Manitoba in a Canada Summer Games. This helped Team Manitoba earn the Centennial Cup, awarded to the province with the most improved performance.

Moroz said having home field advantage helped the province’s athletes. It also allowed them to participate in the entire Games including the opening and closing ceremonies.

“It was a real two-week event for the entire team.”

He wasn’t able to identify any specific special moment during the Games, but said, thanks to the athletes, coaches, volunteers, support workers and spectators, the overall experience was overwhelming.