The Saskatchewan Winter Games begin a year late but with the same anticipation and enthusiasm
Young athletes have been waiting for the Saskatchewan Winter Games to start this weekend.
The games, which were scheduled to take place last year before being canceled, begin this weekend in Regina.
For Cherish Nontell, a para-Nordic skier from the Little Red River Reservation near Christopher Lake, it meant an extra year to train and get stronger.
“I’m really excited because I trained so hard for this,” said the 17-year-old, who represents Team Lakeland at the Games.
“I was counting down the days until it happened,” Nontell said. “I’m looking forward to the graduation ceremony because I’ve seen this before in 2018 and it was really fun to be there.”
About 1,500 participants will represent the nine districts competing in Regina in 16 sports from alpine skiing to wrestling. There are also around 1,000 volunteers.
The Games were scheduled to take place last February for their 50th anniversary. But the pandemic, and in particular the Omicron wave, forced the organizers to postpone the event.
In 2020 the summer games were completely cancelled.
Saskatchewan Games Council executive director Mark Bracken says COVID is still casting a long shadow.
“I think it’s still in the back of everyone’s mind and actually the entire sports system, not just in our province but across the country,” Bracken said.
“I know the postponement was very disappointing but it was the right thing to do based on the pandemic and what was going on there.”
Bracken says it was hard for the athletes to wait a year, but now they’re getting a chance to show their talents.
“The athletes are excited,” he said. “We are preparing and ready to go.”
Josie Wiens, a 13-year-old judo competitor from Flin Flon, attending the Games for the first time, is feeling the excitement.
“My friend and I from judo are the only two going from Flin Flon so it’s going to be a cool experience,” Wiens said. “I think judo is that type of sport where once you’re cheered, you’re cheered and you can go.
“And I’ve never had the dorm experience at the athletes’ village, so it’s going to be cool.”
Canada Winter Games
Elsewhere, the Canada Winter Games begin on Saturday on Prince Edward Island.
Saskatoon long track speed skater Luca Veeman, 17, was Saskatchewan’s flag bearer at Saturday’s opening ceremony.
He is currently ranked in the top three in Canada for junior speed skaters and is considered a medal favorite at a number of events.
“I’m really excited to be leading us to the games,” said Veeman, who recently returned from competing at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Germany.
“I rode my bike to the Summer Games last year and it was really cool to witness the ceremonies and follow the flag bearer,” he recalled. “When I was told I was nominated for the position, I just didn’t really believe it. It seemed too good to be true.”
Saskatchewan, represented by more than 300 athletes, coaches, managers and supervisors, will compete in all 20 sports of the PEI
