VICTORIA – The BC Games is celebrating its 45th anniversary, marking 45 years to the day that the Penticton BC Summer Games opened on August 16, 1978.
In recognition of the milestone, Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, has officially proclaimed August 16, 2023, the ‘45th Anniversary of BC Games.’
The BC Winter and BC Summer Games are British Columbia’s biennial celebration of sport and community. Since 1978, the BC Games have had over 350,000 participants and volunteers in 38 communities, plus thousands more attend as spectators and supporters. Many former BC Games competitors have moved on to participate in national and international competitions, including the Canada Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
To ensure young athletes can continue to have the best experience at the BC Games, the Province is allocating $1.5 million in one-time funding to support the staging of five Games across 2023, 2024 and 2026. This funding is in addition to the more than $2 million provided annually to the BC Games Society to support host communities, cover travel costs for athletes and coaches, and support Team BC’s attendance at the Canada Games.
In 2024, the BC Winter Games will be hosted from February 22-25 by Lhtako Dene Nation and the City of Quesnel while the BC Summer Games will be held in Maple Ridge from July 18-21. To learn more about the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games and the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games, visit staging.bcgames.org/.
Quotes
Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“The BC Games are a celebration of sport, providing valuable opportunities for young British Columbians to participate and reap the benefits of sport. For many young athletes these games are their first sport competition at a provincial level or an important step in their journey towards high performance. As we mark this significant milestone, thank you to the host communities as well as the countless volunteers, coaches and officials of the past 45 years. Your involvement and dedication have brought us to this moment. All the best for the next 45 years, and beyond.”
Alison Noble, President and CEO, BC Games Society
“The BC Games are a key piece of the provincial sport pathway and have played an essential role in bringing communities together to celebrate sport over the past 45 years. The Games and the memories and legacies that they leave behind would not be possible without support of the Province and the work of countless volunteers, participants, officials, coaches, and community leaders. Today is an opportunity to celebrate all of the people who make these Games possible.”
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Media Contact
David Conlin
Communications Manager
BC Games Society
250.356.5254
davidc@bcgames.org
About the BC Games Society
Established in 1977 by the B.C. Government under the Societies Act, the BC Games Society (the Society) oversees the BC Winter Games and BC Summer Games. The Society also supports the participation of Team BC, the provincial team competing at Canada Games, in national multi-sport Games. Each of these Games provide opportunities for the development of athletes, coaches, and officials in preparation for higher levels of competition. The BC Games also provide important economic and tourism benefits, allowing hosts to profile their communities and benefit from an economic impact in the range of $1.6 million to $2 million. The legacies of the BC Winter and BC Summer Games allow for capacity building in communities across the province resulting in a stronger British Columbia.