Six athletes from the Tri-Cities are headed to Calgary to participate in the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, Feb. 27 to March 2.
They are part of a contingent of 142 athletes, 50 coaches and 14 mission staff from 31 communities that will represent British Columbia at the national competition that is held every four years. It’s the biggest team the province has ever sent.
"The energy and excitement of this 2024 provincial team is undeniable," said Special Olympics Team BC Chef de Mission Michelle Cruikshank in a news release.
"It’s been a long-anticipated wait for our athletes to be returning to competition at the national level."
The athletes from the Tri-Cities that will be part of Team BC are:
- Jeremy Kong, Port Coquitlam: curling
- Brad LaForce, Port Coquitlam: speed skating
- Fiona Hall, Port Moody: alpine skiing
- Bridget Colvin, Coquitlam: curling
- Nicholas Libera, Coquitlam: speed skating
- Ariel Taylor, Coquitlam: snowshoeing
More than 4,000 athletes, coaches, officials and visitors will be part of the games in Calgary that feature competition in eight sports:
- Five-pin bowling
- Alpine skiing
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling
- Figure skating
- Floor hockey
- Snowshoeing
- Speed skating
