Near-record temperatures expected for Games

For more than 900 athletes and 700 volunteers, the Special Olympics Summer Games in Medicine Hat represent the culmination of months of hard work and dedication.

With near-record temperatures greeting them here this weekend, organizers are going the extra mile to make sure everyone’s safe while making memories.

“We are pretty lucky, only four events take place outside (softball, soccer, golf and athletics),” said games manager Kara Brake. “We've got a good start, we'll play a lot of it dayto-day.”

From a misting station at the soccer fields to extra water bottles out on the golf course, there are some things being added at the last minute. Brake noted a major donation from Sobey’s allowed the games committee to buy 1,000 bottles of water to be handed out at Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club, while facilities like the Family Leisure Centre and Crescent Heights High School have plenty of places where athletes can fill their own bottles too.

All athletes will get a water bottle as part of their welcome package as well.

Over at the Rotary Track, CFB Suffield is pitching some gigantic green military tents which athletes, volunteers and spectators can all use to get out of the sun. Temperatures are expected to hit 37 degrees Celsius on all three days of competition.

While the added bonuses from the committee will help, it’s still up to anyone spending time outside to prepare and minimize the risks of heatstroke or exhaustion. Things like sunscreen, wearing a hat and pre-hydration can help mitigate health problems outdoors.

“We are going to encourage athletes in between times they're competing to go inside and watch other people compete,” said Brake. “At first we were going to say 'yeah, just stay out and watch the other soccer teams.' Now it's 'go inside the Leisure Centre and watch some other sports.'

“What's nice is with everything in such close proximity, we can do that.”

Worst-case scenario, if anyone does fall ill, there will be medical personnel at all facilities ready to help. A portable clinic will be set up at the Leisure Centre.

Bocce, 5- and 10-pin bowling start this afternoon around 2 p.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. inside the Cypress Centre fieldhouse.

The games end Sunday with the closing ceremonies beginning at 3 p.m. at the Leisure Centre.