Summer 2017 packed with major sporting events
- EFN Staff | January 17, 2017
Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan will be showcasing their talents in a summer packed with three major sporting events. Athletes from the province will be competing in the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), the World Indigenous Nations (WIN) Games, and the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games.
The WIN Games will kick off the line of summer sporting events beginning on July 2-9th. Alberta will be the host of the WIN Games – in partnership between Enoch Cree Nation, the University of Alberta and Wicihitowin Society. As details are still in the making for the WIN Games, anticipation builds as Canada will be welcoming athletes and visitors from all over the world. The first ever WIN Games were held in Brazil in 2015 where almost 2,000 athletes participated in various traditional games and competitions.
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The NAIG starts on July 16-23rd in Toronto, Ontario. Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry, CEO of the Toronto 2017 NAIG Host Society, says this year’s games will be unique, as they will be offering the athletes access to world-class facilities.
“A lot of the venues we’re using were used for the 2015 Pan Am Games. That’s one thing we’re really excited about,” she says. “The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is arguably one of the best pools in the world right now.”
Trudeau-Bomberry says the Indigenous People of Ontario are excited to be host of NAIG this summer.
“Toronto has been traditionally known as a gathering spot for Indigenous people, so we’re excited to carry on that tradition and to welcome and host all the other Indigenous nations,” she adds.
The NAIG Host Society has great partnerships, which include Tourism Toronto and the City of Toronto to help make the games a great success.
Towards the end the summer, Regina will be home to this year’s Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games. File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) were the succesful bidders selected to host the upcoming summer games on August 6-12. FHQTC Vice-Chief Elaine Chicoose says 3,500 young Indigenous athletes will be competing in nine different summer sporting events.
“It’s beneficial for our youth in the province and also for our First Nations. A lot of our youth are very athletic and it’s a place where they come together and showcase their talent, make new friends. It’s a good way of networking,” says Vice-Chief Chicoose in an earlier interview.
The FHQTC organizing committee for the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games will be receiving $575,000 from various sponsors and will be seeking for further financial support to offset the remaining cost. To organize NAIG, it will cost $10.2 million dollars according to CEO Trudeau-Bomberry. Two years ago, the Brazil WIN Games cost nearly $30 million dollars.