REGINA, SK: Excitement was in the air on Saturday in Mosaic Stadium as Mark Bracken, Team Sask Chef de Mission, announced the team that will be proudly representing Saskatchewan at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, MB.
Team Sask 2017 will be competing in Winnipeg from July 28th through August 13th. The team consists of 325 athletes and an additional 99 coaches, managers, technical and mission staff, forming a full contingent of 424. There are 73 communities across Saskatchewan represented by Team Sask participants, making this a truly provincial team.
Saturday’s media conference brought together representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan, Sask Sport Inc., the Saskatchewan Games Council, and athletes and coaching staff from the majority of the 16 sports that will be contested during the 17 days of Games competition.
“For some athletes, the Canada Games are an important stepping stone on their road to international competition and Olympic glory; for others, the Games may represent the pinnacle of their sporting career,” Chef de Mission Mark Bracken told the crowd. “For all participants, however, the Games are an opportunity to build lifelong memories, meet new friends from across the province and country, and enjoy the unique experience of this premiere, nation-building, multi-sport event.”
This is a major year for the Canada Games, as 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the nation’s largest high-level multi-sport event. Athletes who compete at the Canada Games represent the country’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions. Team Sask alumni Mark McMorris, Catriona Le May Doan and Brianne Theisen-Eaton can all count their previous Canada Games experiences as a stepping stone to the Olympic Games.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, Winnipeg will be hosting the largest-ever Jeux du Canada Games Festival, a Canada 150 Signature Project. The festival will run the length of the Games and each province and territory will be highlighted, with August 6th designated as Saskatchewan Day.
“I look forward to Saskatchewan’s participation in the Canada Summer Games and Jeux du Canada Summer Games Festival in Winnipeg,” Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Ken Cheveldayoff said. “In addition to our talented athletes and coaches competing at the games, some of our sport history will be on display and performances will feature some of Saskatchewan’s favourite musicians. This will be an excellent showcase of our homegrown athletic and artistic talent.”
Team Sask results will be updated daily on the Team Sask website at teamsask.ca and can also be found at https://cg2017.gems.pro.
The official 2017 Canada Summer Games website is located at 2017canadagames.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Karen Lawson
Games Services & Communications Lead
(306) 780-9387
klawson@saskgames.ca
