Unseasonably warm weather and a lack of snow forced organizers of the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games to move the cross-country ski events to Strathcona County.
Starting next Wednesday, 87 skiers from 10 provinces and the Yukon will make tracks at the Strathcona Wilderness Park instead of Kingswood Park in St. Albert.
The Strathcona trails were a viable option because they benefit from the shelter of the trees and have retained more snow than the Kingswood Park trails through Riverlot 56.
“We were at a crunch time and we’re very fortunate that these folks stepped up to help us,” said Dan MacLennan, chair of the Games Organizing Committee.
Over the course of four days the skiers will race for medals in 15 events, ranging in distance from 100 metres to 10 kilometres in classic and free technique.
“The athletes will still be the focus of the Games,” MacLennan said. “My big personal panic was that we might not be able to pull it off, but the sports groups have been great and found a solution.”
The decision to switch venues was finalized Tuesday morning.
“We’re disappointed with the weather because a lot of people in St. Albert have put a lot of time in to make it happen,” MacLennan said. “It was another challenge to meet and [Games manager] Mike Edwards and Bonnie and James with the Games staff that are working out of the St. Albert office are doing a great job. A lot of people involved at the leadership level have also stepped up.”
Organizers are now working out the logistics of busing the skiers to Strathcona instead of St. Albert from the athlete’s village at the Mayfield Inn & Suites and the Ramada Conference Center. The Wilderness Centre is located about 20 minutes east of Sherwood Park, along Baseline Road or the Yellowhead Highway and then south on Range Road 212.
Transportation also has to be arranged for the volunteers to get to the Strathcona venue.
A meeting was scheduled Tuesday night for the Games Organizing Committee to address any budget concerns with the venue change. The operation budget for the Games is 1.55 million.
“We’re going to be doing everything within budget but we might have to move things around,” MacLennan said. “Our doors are still open for more willing sponsors to step up. I know the Games office and the leadership team will make it all happen within budget. As late as last week we were still getting some in-kind sponsorships and other things coming forward.”
Snowshoeing will still take place at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club, as conditions there remain optimal.
The remaining sports are also good to go. Alpine skiing is at Marmot Basin in Jasper, curling will rock the St. Albert Curling Club and floor hockey, figure skating and speed skating will be staged at Servus Credit Union Place.
The seventh annual national winter festival for athletes with an intellectual disability officially kicks off Tuesday with the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. at Performance Arena. Admission is free.
The closing ceremonies are March 3 at 5 p.m. at Performance Arena.
“The excitement builds every day,” said Edwards, who spent a busy Tuesday with various Special Olympics Canada staff members checking out the venues. “There’s been an influx of volunteers coming in and that really makes you appreciate being a part of these events. People are donating their spare time just to see and be part of such a great event. Their enthusiasm always adds to ours and ours is growing every day.”
The Games will bring together 651 athletes, 208 coaches and 77 support staff.
Alberta is sending the third largest team, consisting of 78 athletes, 23 coaches and 11 support staff.
Tuesday is a practice day for the athletes.
“They will be taken to the venues to practice and get a lay of the land. They will get to spend some time on the courses, the ice and the playing surfaces. We want to have them settled in so they can focus on one thing and one thing only and that’s performing at their best,” Edwards said.
For more information on the Games, including an updated schedule of sports events, visit www.stalbert2012.ca.
