28 per cent of Canadians at Winter Games have ties to B.C.

The grassroots, community-based approach that British Columbia has pioneered to support athletes and coaches in achieving their goals is one that is highly unique and clearly working.

Team Canada has nominated 225 athletes, and 63 of those athletes — a remarkable 28 per cent — have a connection to B.C.

“We are proud to provide a daily training environment for so many members of Team Canada,” says Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “B.C. has world-class programs, services and facilities that support the development of athletes and coaches to reach this level of competition. It is no surprise that so many athletes live and train in our province.”

The number of B.C. athletes representing Canada in PyeongChang is significantly higher than in Sochi four years ago, where only 19 per cent had a connection to B.C.

The province’s contingent is even more noteworthy considering B.C. only accounts for 13 per cent of the country’s population.

B.C. athletes and coaches destined for the Olympic Winter Games in South Korea represent 16 different communities across all regions of the province. Some athletes were born and raised here, and numerous others have come to take advantage of the training facilities available to them in the province, as witnessed by the seven national teams who have chosen to make B.C. their home base.

Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa, set to compete in her third Olympics in women’s ski cross, is among 19 athletes who are BC Games and Team BC alumni.

The Olympics officially open on Friday and run through Feb. 25.