Prince George is less than seven days away from surpassing another milestone in its history.
The 2019 World ParaNordic Skiing Championships is the first major international competition in the city and competing countries are arriving early to take in the sights.
Since last Friday (Feb. 1), three nations have landed in B.C.’s northern capital, including South Korea, Ukraine, and Great Britain, with 15 others flying into YXS soon.
The Ukrainian national squad was greeted this morning (Feb. 8) by Prince George’s Yalenka Ukrainian Cultural Society with welcome signs and Canada flags.
Team Ukraine was the next #WPNSC2019 team to arrive and our local Yalenka Ukrainian Cultural Society was so excited to meet them at @FlyYXS yesterday and welcome them to the #cityofPG! 🤩❄️ For full event info head to https://t.co/oRCnOhFyqn-all competitions are free to attend! pic.twitter.com/Ofs59eohHR
— Caledonia Nordic (@OtwayPG) February 8, 2019
In addition to adjusting to the Pacific time zone and weather conditions, teams will also want to get a glimpse at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, which continues to put the finishing touches on the course.
Athletes are registered in either the sitting, standing, or visually-impaired categories of the tournament’s two sports, cross-country skiing and biathlon.
There are 19 total countries racing in this year’s ParaNordic Championships:
- Canada (Host)
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- South Korea
- Mongolia
- Norway
- Poland
- Sweden
- Tajikistan
- Ukraine
- United States
So if you see some of these new visitors walking downtown or in your area, don’t be shy to say ‘Hello’, wish them luck at the Championships, and show some of that Prince George hospitality.
