Six local Special Olympic athletes Karris George, Gaven Harker, Brydon Marchand, Linda McDonald, Chuck McDonald, and Tyler Scott have been named as the official ambassadors of the upcoming 2026 Canada Summer Games held in Medicine Hat in August.--HANDOUT IMAGE
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Six local Special Olympic athletes have been named as official ambassadors of the upcoming 2026 Canada Summer Games held in Medicine Hat in August.
Karris George, Gaven Harker, Brydon Marchand, Linda McDonald, Chuck McDonald and Tyler Scott are Special Olympics athletes chosen to help promote the Games from Aug. 11-15.
The athlete ambassadors were selected last month and have been busy in their roles by helping to pick the Games slogan, decide on some of the items visiting athletes will receive and recently working at a trade show to promote the event.
The slogan of the upcoming Games has been chosen as, “We shine together.”
“It makes me feel valued,” said McDonald, who competed at the 2006 national games. “It’s exciting. I’m proud.”
“You’ll have an amazing time seeing how much the athletes put out, you get a whole different perspective of how we go out to (participating) than other athletes,” added McDonald.
“I’m excited to be meeting new people, show people around,” said George.
“Just to see the enjoyment on people’s faces,” said Harker.
The athlete ambassadors will also be involved in promoting the Games over social media in August and will be active leading up to the national event.
Organizers say they take input for their athlete ambassadors seriously when planning the event.
“We didn’t want to make any decisions about what the athletes are doing and what participants are coming to do without input from the athletes,” said Games manager Kara Brake.
Officials are estimating the city will welcome more than 1,700 participants and coaches from across the country to compete.
