Countdown begins to Alberta 55-plus Summer Games in July
By JEREMY APPEL on May 8, 2019.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com
The Hat is getting ready to host the 2019 Alberta 55-plus Summer Games from July 4-7, where 1,400 people from across the province are set congregate.
Barry Finkelman, the director of promotions and marketing for Medicine Hat Summer Games, says the games include 16 events, some of which are sport-based and others which are more activity-focused.
The events are bocce, contract bridge, cribbage, cycling, floor curling, floor shuffleboard, golf, horseshoes, military whist, eight-ball pool, slo-pitch, swimming, track and field, as well as arts and photography, and a special lawn bowling tournament.
“We know that not all people who are over 55 can lead a sports-active lifestyle, so there’s a range of different things,” explained Finkelman.
“The variety of games, of course, is designed so they will remain active and stay involved.”
He says Medicine Hat has all the amenities needed to host this series of events – the Veiner Centre, curling rink, Family Leisure Centre, various baseball diamonds and the facilities at the region’s high schools.
“Ensuring that there’s enough space and facilities to do everything takes a lot of work,” Finkelman said.
Amenities aside, there are other reasons the Hat is a suitable location for the games.
“We have 330 days of sunshine … We have this wonderful weather, so for outdoor sports it’s absolutely fantastic,” said Finkelman said.
“We also have a significant number of people who fall in that age range in this area of Alberta … Medicine Hat has always had a very large group of very active and very healthy people in the senior age range.”
He says it’s thus crucial that the Hat participate in events that encourage activity among senior citizens.
As local Summer Games chair Ted Rodych said in a news release, “We have so many excellent sites that provide opportunities to help people to live, long, healthy lives and there are so many volunteer organizations which support and operate these programs.”
More than 600 volunteers from the community are expected to ensure the games run smoothly, said Rodych.
Dave Finn, the Alberta 55-plus vice president for the south region, says the games have been in the works for the past 18 months, with organizers meeting at least every two weeks.
The qualifying events for those who want to participate in the games are underway across Alberta, he added.
“There’s so many events for so many different athletes,” said Finn. “The hotels have been booked, the campgrounds have been booked, the facilities have been booked, the equipment has been rented, (and) judges and officials are being established as we speak to make sure all the events have the right people in place.”
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