A search for northern B.C.'s next Olympian - or Olympians - will take place at the Northern Sport Centre on Saturday.
Engage Sport North, in partnership with RBC, the Canadian Olympic Committee, CBC Sports and others, is hosting an RBC Training Ground regional qualifier for individuals aged 14 to 25.
The start time is 8 a.m.
No previous experience is necessary to attend the qualifier. At the event, participants will be put through a series of short, athletic exercises that measure speed, power, strength and endurance. Each person will then be evaluated against performance benchmarks set by national sport organizations.
The idea is to find people with Olympic potential - possibly in a sport they hadn't even considered.
"That's the exciting part," said Leslie Ann Wirth, executive director of Engage Sport North, formerly known as PacificSport Northern B.C.
"You may be tied to a specific sport or you may have a pathway for yourself already identified for a specific sport but these tests are actually standardized tests that the different Olympic teams use to determine whether you actually have the raw talent and/or physical build or construct that is appropriate for the sport. So it's not actually about your skill at all, it's about: where are you in relation to your peers, and are you physiologically a fit for a specific sport?"
RBC Training Ground is a nationwide program but this marks the first time it has been offered in northern B.C. Sport organizations involved in the program are Athletics Canada, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, Canoe Kayak Canada, Cycling Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, Alpine Canada (Ski Cross), the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Judo Canada, Triathlon Canada and Water Polo Canada.
"We're really happy to be able to facilitate the testing and really expose our northern athletes to the kinds of things that others have had an opportunity to participate in," Wirth said.
Once potential Olympians have been identified in the cross-Canada search, CBC Sports will produce select features to tell their stories.
The features will follow each of the top five athletes as they train in their sport and begin the journey to being a potential member of Team Canada.
Last year, RBC Training Ground tested a total of 400 people at regional events held in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Of those participants, 94 met national sport benchmarks and 25 were given funding so they could pursue their goals.
On Saturday, participants who are 14 or 15 years old will be eligible for testing but only those 16 and older will be considered for further development.
A registration link can be found on the Engage Sport North Facebook page.
Other B.C. cities that will host RBC Training Ground sessions include Burnaby (Feb. 5), Kamloops (Feb. 12) and Victoria (Feb. 19).
Past Prince George Olympic athletes include: Alyx Treasure (high jump, 2016); Megan Tandy (biathlon, 2010, 2014); Chris Wong (freestyle skiing, 2006); Scott Bellavance (freestyle skiing, 2002); Kevin Marshall (speed skating, 1998, 2002); Neal Marshall (speed skating, 1992, 1994, 1998); Chris Bowie (swimming, 1992); Randy Wagner (volleyball, 1984); Ed Day (cross-country skiing, 1976); Sid McKnight (boxing, 1976); and Rolf Pettersen (cross-country skiing, 1968).
