Special Olympics Winter Games start this week

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This article was published 24/02/2015 (4041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Athletes across the province are training extra hard this week to prepare for the Special Olympics Manitoba Winter Games, which are just around the corner.

On Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., the games are kicking off at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre (1808 Wellington Ave.) followed by a weekend of province-wide competition taking place at various venues around the city.

While the Special Olympics Winnipeg Winter Games are an annual event, the Manitoba Games are held only once every four years. There will be over 300 athletes and coaches at the Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games and a total of seven sporting events including: snowshoeing, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating, floor hockey and curling.

One of the new additions to the games this year is that Westwood Collegiate is hosting three of the events happening opening day. Spectators and supporters are welcome to come watch floor hockey in the gym, snowshoeing around the outdoor track or speed skating across the field at Kinsmen Allard Arena (80 Allard Ave.).

Steven Dreger, communications and media relations manager for Special Olympics Manitoba, says the provincial games are always something to see and that it’s very special to come and experience the energy first-hand.

“This is a chance for our athletes to do their best, achieve a personal best and get a team effort in that might be recognized,” Dreger said. “Getting a chance to represent Team Manitoba at the nationals really conjures up a lot of excitement and positive energy.”

He says if athletes or teams do well over the weekend, they may earn the opportunity to attend the Special Olympics Nationals next winter in Corner Brook, N.L. The athletes competing at the games range in age with the youngest competitor this year being 10-year-old Rebecca Birss and the oldest participant being 66-year-old Valerie Marshall, both of whom are competing in snowshoeing.  

The various events will take place from Feb. 27 to March 1 at: the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre, Westwood Collegiate (360 Rouge Rd.), St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (400 South Dr.), Springhill Winter Sports Park (Oasis Road, Oakbank), Allard Arena and the Rossmere Curling Club (925 Watt St.).

Dreger says if people want to keep track of the events of the day, they can follow the hashtag #SOMwintergames on Instagram or Twitter or visit the online schedule found at specialolympics.mb.ca