Welcome, Canada Winter Games. We've been waiting for you.
For more than five years, actually. The first real steps toward hosting this massive multi-sport and cultural event were taken in July of 2009 when the City of Prince George decided to make a formal bid for the 2015 Games. With Kamloops and Kelowna as the competition, Prince George started the race in bronze-medal position. But, by the time the bid process was complete, P.G. had outpaced the other two communities and was officially awarded the Games on Sept. 17, 2010.
Now, the opening ceremony is upon us, set for 7 p.m. at CN Centre. Fifteen days of competition will follow. And, from a spectator's point of view, there will be something for everyone. Week 1 sports include alpine skiing, archery, artistic gymnastics, biathlon, men's curling, freestyle skiing, women's hockey, ringette, speed skating (long track and short track), target shooting and wheelchair basketball. Week 2 will have badminton, cross-country skiing, women's curling, figure skating, trampoline, men's hockey, judo, snowboarding, squash, synchronized swimming and table tennis.
On the cultural side of the equation, every single day of the Games will feature live (and free) entertainment from top performers in the city, region and country. Alan Doyle, frontman of Newfoundland folk/rock group Great Big Sea, is arguably the biggest star who will step onto a Canada Winter Games stage. He'll offer up his Maritime melodies on Sunday (7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at Canada Games Plaza.
Ever since the Canada Games Council proclaimed Prince George as the 2015 host, there has been a lot of talk about what the Winter Games will mean for the city and its residents. Top mention usually goes to the financial impact - an estimated $70 million to $90 million in economic activity. And, rightfully so, much has been made about the legacies that will be left behind: the new Kin Centre, the vastly-improved Otway Nordic Centre, the upgraded ski runs at Tabor and Purden mountains and the more weather-resilient surface at the Outdoor Ice Oval (which looks like it will be severely tested during the Games).
But there will also be another kind of impact, and this one will be much harder to measure. In fact, it will be totally unpredictable.
This impact will be on the human level.
Imagine, for example, being a young kid and going to see short track speed skating for the first time in your life. Imagine being so inspired by what you witness that you decide to try the sport for yourself. And then imagine 15 years down the road when your hard work and dedication has led you to a spot on Team Canada.
Maybe that young kid goes to check out the archery competition instead. And maybe archery turns into a lifelong passion.
The same could be said of any of the sports that will take the spotlight at the Canada Winter Games. Somewhere in the crowd of spectators could be a young individual who will be so captivated by what is happening in front of him or her that the influence carries forward for years to come. And there's no telling what form that influence could take.
The idea also applies to the cultural component of the Canada Winter Games. Perhaps being in the audience for the Alan Doyle show prompts a youngster to pick up a guitar. And maybe that guitar leads to a future career or to a love of music that endures through the decades.
For athletes and performers - for everyone who strives to reach a goal in life - a spark was lit somewhere along the way.
Without question, the 2015 Canada Winter Games will act as an ignition source. And, for those who discover new passions between now and the closing ceremony on March 1, the flame will burn long after the cauldron for these Games has been extinguished.
