NAIG swimming competition moves ahead
- EFN Staff | July 11, 2014
The Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council (Partners Council) is pleased to announce that, with the support of the North American Indigenous Games Council (NAIG Council) and the Regina 2014 NAIG Host Society, a swimming competition will be held during the 2014 North American Indigenous Games.
The swimming competition will be held at the Kinsmen Sportsplex in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Team practice sessions will be offered on July 21 and 22, with the competition being held July 23 - 25, 2014.
As the Regina 2014 NAIG Host Society had been experiencing some difficulties with delivering the competition and was forced to potentially cancel it, a Task Team was established by the NAIG Council to work with the Host Society and find solutions to the issues surrounding the event. Through the efforts of the Task Team, an offer was presented by the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council to host the event. On June 26, 2014, the NAIG Council Board of Directors voted to support the offer and move forward with the competition.
"We are very honoured to be hosting the swimming competition in Moose Jaw," says Rick Brant, Director of the Partners Council. "The fact that we were able to offer a helping hand is testament to the remarkable volunteers that we have in B.C. people who are passionate about swimming and committed to making sure that young Aboriginal swimmers from across Canada and United States have the opportunity to compete at the 2014 NAIG. If it wasn't for their commitment, the support of the NAIG Council and the Regina 2014 NAIG Host Society, we would not have been in a position to host the competition."
A group of experts from B.C.'s swimming community will travel to Moose Jaw to deliver the event. To support them, a number of teams have committed to bringing swimming officials and volunteers to help run the competition. The Partners Council, NAIG Council, Team NWT and Team Ontario will cover the cost of the competition. Likewise, the Regina 2014 NAIG Host Society will be providing swimming participants with food and accommodations.
"This has been a group effort!" says Dave Canadian, NAIG Council President. "We came together as a NAIG family and found a way to support the young Aboriginal swimmers that have been preparing to compete at the 2014 NAIG. The Regina 2014 NAIG is going to be a fantastic event and thankfully the swimmers will be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience."
"The Host Society of NAIG 2014 supports the participants in this non-sanctioned swim competition to the level that was agreed upon by NAIG Council," says Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat, Chair of the Regina 2014 NAIG Host Society. "We are happy for the youth participating in this event."