The City of Prince George will be submitting a bid to host the 2025 Special Olympics B.C. Summer Games, following a vote by city council on Monday night.
If successful, the eight-sport event is expected to draw roughly 1,400 athletes and coaches from British Columbia and the Yukon to compete, according to a report that went before city council on Monday night. The Special Olympics summer games offers athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete in basketball, bocce, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming and track and field.
“I think this is going to be a great event,” Coun. Brian Skakun said. “The Special Olympics is going to bring people here and showcase Prince George as a caring community.”
The games are expected to have a $375,000 budget, of which the city would be expected to provide $35,000 in cash and $60,000 in in-kind costs, such as facility usage, city director of public safety Adam Davey wrote in his report. However, the event is anticipated to have a roughly $1.3 million economic impact for the city.
Hosting the games will be done in partnership with School District 57, Davey wrote in his report. If the games are a success, it could open the opportunity for the city to host the 2028 national winter Special Olympics, Davey added.
“I hope we’re successful, to host what I’m sure will be a great number of athletes to the city,” Coun. Cori Ramsay said.
Mayor Lyn Hall said he was part of the host team for the 2001 Special Olympics in the city, and the events – and the athletes who take part in them – are inspiring. The city is long overdue to host the Special Olympics again, he said, and it will provide local athletes like Linda Renner a chance to compete on their home turf.
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