From July 10 to 12, athletes from across British Columbia will gather in Prince George to compete in the first Special Olympics BC Provincial Summer Games in eight years.
The event will bring more than 1,200 athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as volunteer coaches, mission staff and athletes’ families, to the city.
With an event of this size, organizers say there is a significant need for community volunteers to help fill essential roles and ensure the Games run smoothly.
“Just being part of the Special Olympics group is so rewarding,” said director of volunteers Donna Flood. “They’re going to find great joy in the athletes, and enthusiasm and pride in our community. I think what they’ll find is they get way more out of volunteering than they expected, just because of the nature of the people we’re supporting. It’s going to be really fun, really uplifting. We just need a lot of hands-on help for what we’re doing.”
Flood told The Citizen that about 400 volunteers have already signed up, meaning another 600 are still needed to fill critical roles.
To make the sign-up process easier, an in-person volunteer office will open Wednesday, June 11 on the sixth floor of the Royal Bank Building at 550 Victoria St. Volunteers can also register online at the Special Olympics BC website, where they can choose their roles and select shifts that fit their schedules.
Volunteers are currently needed in the following areas:
- Sport officials (must be certified)
- General sports volunteers (no certification required)
- Accommodations, access control and medical
- Food services, logistics and transportation
- Ceremonies
- Public relations
- Healthy Athletes screenings
- General support
FOODSAFE certification is required for all chefs and food services shift leaders. Volunteers must be 14 years or older.
Flood said food preparation is the area with the greatest need, with public relations and general support also requiring more volunteers.
“With only a month to go, time is running out,” she said. “We need to acknowledge that Prince George is a last-minute town — and right now is the last minute. Now is the time to sign up.”
She added that Prince George is a frontrunner to host the 2030 National Special Olympics Week.
“That will bring the whole country to Prince George, so we want to show them we can do this — that Prince George is a city of volunteers.”
To register to volunteer, visit:
https://specialolympics.ca/british-columbia/what-we-do/games-and-competitions/2025-special-olympics-bc-summer-games/2025-sobc-games-volunteer/
