In just a few days, organizers of the 55+ B.C. Games will get a chance to see a year’s worth of planning and hard work come together.
More than 3,200 athletes and 1,200 volunteers from across the province will begin pouring into Coquitlam this weekend to take part in the annual sporting event ahead of Wednesday’s opening ceremonies and cauldron lighting at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
Pat Meyers, one of many organizers, said he is looking forward to seeing the host society’s efforts finally pay off.
“It has been a year in the making,” he said. “It started in August of last year. We shadowed the North Vancouver games to get a feel for what was going on over there. It is really great to watch it all come together.”
There is a reason many cities vie to host the 55+ B.C. Games.
Meyers said the event not only fosters a healthy sense of community through sport but it’s estimated it generates more than $3 million in economic spinoffs.
For many competitors, the games are an opportunity to take a little holiday and connect with friends and family, he added.
“It is fantastic for the community. [The athletes] will stay at hotels and eat at restaurants… and take advantage of the services in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities as a whole,” he said, later adding, “The 55-and-over group have money to spend.”
Most importantly, the event is about sports, Meyers said.
While some athletes are more competitive than others, many are just here to make some friends and improve on their time or score from last year.
“It isn’t necessarily about the medals,” he said. “They are focused on their personal bests.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The Coquitlam 55+ BC Games will centre around the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.), where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place, but events will occur all over the city, including at Town Centre Park and the City Centre Aquatic Complex. Dragon Boat racing will be held in the waters off Rocky Point Park in Port Moody while the golf event is scheduled to take place at the Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows.
Some preliminary sporting events will get underway on Wednesday before the opening ceremonies, which will take place between 7 and 8:30 p.m., with entertainment beforehand starting at 6:30 p.m.
The event will include a parade of athletes, which will be marched into the Poirier complex by the Dowco Triumph Street Band, followed by the lighting of the cauldron. Dynamic aerial and acrobatics will do a contortion act and musical group Fat Jazz will perform.
On Thursday, athletes are invited for a dinner buffet and entertainment between 5 and 9:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Casino (2080 United Blvd.) while a participants banquet and dance will be held at the Poirier complex next Friday, starting with a buffet dinner at 4 p.m. and dancing between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.
The closing ceremonies are expected to take place on Saturday between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at the PSLC with a volunteer appreciation event following at 3 p.m.
For a complete list of all sports and start times go to www.55plusgames.ca/sports/schedules.
@gmckennaTC
