The 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games kick off Sunday in North Battleford.
The event will see young athletes, coaches and spectators from around the province flock to the city for the events. This year’s games will feature a mix of outdoor winter sports events such as skiing, speed-skating and hockey combined with competitions in weightlifting, judo and swimming.
Saskatchewan’s Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Gene Makowsky says that the event will have a lasting legacy on North Battleford through infrastructure and equipment upgrades, as well as an estimated four million dollars expected to be brought in from tourism. The city also received a $250,000 legacy grant from the Saskatchewan Games Council, which went towards upgrades at Table Mountain, the Northland Power Curling Centre and a new wrestling mat for North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
Not only that, Makowsky says that this event is a “stepping stone” towards youth in the province eventually being ready to compete in major events like the Canada Games or the Olympics.
Lloydminster, North Battleford and surrounding towns will be competing in the Rivers West team. A full list of events and times can be found on the Sask Games website.
