City of Regina throws support behind bid for Winter Special Olympics
When Special Olympics Saskatchewan came to the City of Regina’s executive committee looking for $100,000 to help fund their bid for the 2020 Special Olympics Canada (SOC) Winter Games, it did not take long to get a unanimous vote in favour of it. Speaking following the decision by the committee, Faye Matt, CEO of the organization, explained why Regina would be a good place for the Games.
“I think for an event like this you need lots of volunteers and lots of folks getting behind it,” Matt said. “Regina seems like a natural fit for that. We also have some great venues for the size of the Games we would be having as well.”
If Regina is the winning bid, an estimated 1,200 athletes and 1,500 additional friends and family members will come to Regina for seven days, with events taking place from Feb. 15 to 22, 2020. Sports at the Games include crosscountry skiing, figure skating, curling, floor hockey and bowling.
“I think sometimes Special Olympics has a reputation as a nice participation event, but really it is a sporting event with some great stories that come out of it,” Matt said. “We like to think that it is sport in its purest form.”
In a study done at the 2016 games in Corner Brook, N.L., it was found that $3.9 million was invested into the community from visitor and operation spending, with $1,100 in tourism spending per supporter and $5.4 million in local economic activity.
It is estimated that the Games will cost $907,500 in community funding. So far, just over $300,000 has been raised, not including the $100,000 from the city if council approves the recommendation on June 26.
National Special Olympics events have been held only three times in Saskatchewan. In 1978, Regina hosted the National Invitational Special Olympics Summer Games, while in 1992 the SOC National Winter Games were held in Saskatoon. Most recently, the SOC National Summer Games were held in Prince Albert in 2002, with 1,200 athletes taking part.
Currently, Thunder Bay is the only other community to have provided an interest publicly. This is also the first time that a bidding system has been used for the Games.
John Lee, CEO of Economic Development Regina, was very much in favour of the proposal.
“This is a winter event and we like that from a tourism perspective,” he said. “We tend to get things more in the high season, so this is significant.”
Regina’s bid will officially be submitted on June 16. Site visits will take place from July 3 to 7, with the winning city announced on July 28.