St. Albert council is likely to consider a bid to host the 2029 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games, following a presentation and vote at the Standing Committee of the Whole meeting on May 13.
In a presentation by St. Albert's manager for funding and special events, recreation and parks Anna Royer, the request follows a move in December 2024 when council decided to drop a bid for the 2027 Alberta Seniors 55+ Summer Games. The reasoning for the dropped bid was following a massive format change that would have seen athletic competition being shifted to card games.
St. Albert has been the site of some multi-sport games in the past, including the 1979 Alberta Summer Games, the 1994 Alberta Winter Games, 2011 Alberta 55+ Winter Games and the 2012 Special Olympics National Games.
The benefits of hosting multi-sport games laid out to the committee were the opportunity to provide exciting volunteer opportunities, involve St. Albert sport partners, and celebrate sport and culture.
If successful in its bid, the 2029 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games would require 1300 delegates and an estimated 400 to 500 volunteers. The estimated expense to host the games is approximately $650,000.
A bid for the 2028 Alberta Summer Games was also considered, but the financial commitment of approximately $2.2 million was significantly higher.
"There is a high demand for staffing and volunteering resources and a significant amount of sponsorship dollars would be required from the community if council chose to direct administration to choose the alternate and bid for the 2028 Alberta Summer Games," Royer said.
The motion for council to direct administration to prepare a bid for the 2029 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games and commit up to $400,000 within the Stabilization Reserve to be used as funding to plan and implement the event if the bid is successful passed unanimously with a degree of excitement should the city get the opportunity to host.
"I love the Special Olympics. I loved the winter ones when it was here. It was awesome to watch," St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron said.
