Promoting participation
P.E.I. 55+ Summer Games start Sept. 20, registration deadline today
Participants in the P.E.I. 55+ Summer Games, coming to West Prince Sept. 20 to 23, do not have to limit their participation to just one sport.
“You can register for as many as you want, as long as there is no conflict,” said Blair O’Halloran, Games’ host committee co-ordinator.
The only potential conflict would be if a participant signed up for sports being played at the same time. The Games, O’Halloran said, promote participation.
This year, the Games are being co-hosted by O’Leary on Sept. 20, Alberton on Sept. 21 and Tignish on Sept. 22 and 23.
Different sports are hosted in each town. As well, Mill River Experience will play host to the Sept. 20 and 21 golf events. Special room rates for all Games’ participants are available at Mill River Experience.
O’Leary has cribbage, crokinole, auction 45s, archery, rook, shuffleboard, tennis, washer toss and the five- and 10-kilometre run.
Events in Alberton are fivepin bowling, lawn bowling, bocce, cycling, fishing and the two- and five-kilometre walks.
Tignish has contract bridge, duplicate bridge, darts, pickleball and Scrabble on Sept. 22 and mixed softball on Sept. 23.
The Games are open to anyone born in 1962 or earlier. During Games week, receptions will be held on Wednesday at the O’Leary Legion, Thursday at the Prince County Exhibition Hall and Friday at Tignish Legion. Each reception is scheduled to run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. A flagraising ceremony to open the Games will be held in O’Leary at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 20, and the closing ceremonies will be held Sept. 22 during the Tignish reception.
The host committee’s office is based out of the O’Leary Town Hall (902-859-1974).
Games host committee chairman Jim MacIntyre said he is anticipating a big turnout, especially from West Prince. Joining MacIntyre on the host committee is Dean Getson, vice-chairman; Geoffrey Irving, treasurer; Krista Locke Ellis, secretary; municipal representatives Susan Wallace Flynn, Sam Arsenault and Jeff Ellsworth; and provincial board representative Cletus Dunn.
Major sponsors of the Games are Vogue Optical and Feasible Fuels.
Registration deadline for any of the competitions is today. Registration forms can be picked up and dropped off at the O’Leary, Alberton and Tignish town offices during regular business hours. Registration forms are also available from the municipal offices in Wellington, Kensington, Charlottetown, Montague and Souris and at any Vogue Optical location. Forms are also available at the P.E.I. Games office, 40 Enman Crescent, Charlottetown.
Registration can also be done online at pei55plusgames@ gmail.com.