A group of athletes from Cochrane and Airdrie were up bright and early today (February 16) to catch the bus headed to Fort McMurray for the 2018 Alberta Winter Games.

The group, representing Zone 2, were on the road shortly after 6:15 this morning, heading from Genesis Place to the Winter Games which are taking place in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo today through February 19th.  At the last Winter Games in Medicine Hat in 2016, Zone 2 placed third, winning 19 gold medals, 27 silver and 18 bronze.  The games provide an opportunity for athletes between the ages of 11 and 17 to compete in a provincial winter sports competition.

More than 2,500 participants, their families, and spectators are expected to attend this year's games.  Ricardo Miranda, Alberta's Minister of Culture and Tourism responsible for sport says, "As the eyes of the world are fixed on Canada's Olympic athletes in Pyeongchang, we are fortunate to have this opportunity to witness the next generation of Alberta's Olympians as they compete at the 2018 Alberta Winter Games."

The games include a wide variety of sports from skiing, hockey, biathlon, curling and speed skating to synchronized swimming, fencing, artistic gymnastics, volleyball, and boxing.  

The games generate about $3 million in economic impact for the host communities.  That's great news for the City of Airdrie who will play host to the games when they're next held in 2020.  Airdrie also hosted the Alberta Summer Games in 2014. 

 

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