FIERY EXCITEMENT
Edmonton Police Const. Catlin Chiasson and student Ami Schaan, along with members from the Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run team, carry the Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games torch into Bert Church High School in Airdrie on Thursday.
Athletes from across the province will convene in Calgary this weekend for the Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games, which launch with an opening ceremony Friday evening.
More than 700 athletes from Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories will be in the city from Friday to Sunday to participate in what Special Olympics Alberta says is the largest sporting event for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the province.
The athletes will compete in alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing, speedskating and five-pin bowling.
Games organizing committee co-chair Karen Saunders said the athletes will be competing for a spot on the provincial team. Members of Team Alberta will compete at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ont.
“The Games Organizing Committee has been working very hard to ensure the athletes have an outstanding sporting competition and also the opportunity to make new connections with athletes from around Alberta, N.W.T. and Saskatchewan,” Saunders said.
Athletes will enter WinSport Arena “in true Olympic fashion” for the opening ceremony, organizers say, and the Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Final Leg team will bring the Special Olympics Flame of Hope into the event to officially open the games.
As part of the torch run, LETR had stops scheduled at schools in Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane throughout Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the torch run stopped at Father Scollen School, Bishop McNally High School, Bert Church High School and St Martin de Porres High School. On Friday, the torch will make an appearance at Cochrane High School and Lord Beaverbrook High School, before the flame is carried into the arena.
Two Special Olympics Alberta athletes and Const. Cindy Klassen, a six-time Olympic medallist and member of the Calgary Police Service, will lead the Flame of Hope into the opening ceremony.
A team of 65 officers who are part of The Alberta Law Enforcement Torch Run will help deliver the torch to the cauldron at WinSport.