Kick off the Ontario Winter Games with CBC's Superior Morning

The Ontario Winter Games are getting underway in Thunder Bay this weekend and CBC Thunder Bay's Superior Morning kicked off the action with a special broadcast at Lakehead University. 

We spoke to all kinds of people involved, from athletes who are making their final preparations before they compete, to coaches and volunteers that make it all happen. 

Scroll through and click on the audio players below to get ready for this weekend's action. We'll continue our coverage all weekend on CBC.CA and the CBC News App, from the opening ceremonies at Fort William Historical Park right through until Sunday evening. 

Superior Morning6:47Ontario Winter Games special: Jason Veltri

<p>The Ontario Winter Games have kicked off in Thunder Bay. More than 13-hundred athletes, coaches and officials from across the province are taking part in 13 different sports over this weekend and next.</p><p>Jason Veltri from the Winter Games Marketing and Communications Committee has more on what to expect.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning10:54Ontario Winter Games special: Diane Imrie on Thunder Bay's history with the games

<p>And we couldn't possibly do an Ontario Winter Games special without Diane Imrie, the executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. She is a walking encyclopedia of northwestern Ontario sport, and she joined us to put this weekend's events in their historical context.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning7:47Ontario Winter Games special: a ringette primer

<p>One of the games being played this weekend at the Ontario Winter Games won't have any local competitors. That's because Thunder Bay hasn't had a youth Ringette league for quite some time. But there are still ringette players in the city who get out to play every week at the Port Arthur Arena. So to get prepped for the winter games version, Mary-Jean Cormier stopped by to check it out.</p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning8:13Ontario Winter Games special: Team Northern Ontario badminton

<p>When we think of winter sports in northern Ontario, badminton is not the first one that comes to mind. But it's on the rise right across the province.&nbsp; And the north is no exception. Team Northern Ontario will be taking to the courts at Superior CVI this weekend as part of the Ontario Winter Games. Kurt Tempelmans Plat is the team's coach. He’s also the president of the Northern Ontario Badminton Association, and he’s based in North Bay. Kayo Lake is one of the players. He's based here in Thunder Bay.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning8:23Ontario Winter Games special: Cross-country ski coach Eric Bailey and skier Hanna Abbink

<p>Its been a busy season for cross country skiers in Thunder Bay. And this weekend will be no exception as athletes take to the trails at Lappe Nordic Ski Centre.&nbsp;Twenty-nine athletes from the Lake Superior district will be competing in the Ontario Winter Games. Eric Bailey is a Lake Superior Ski District Team Coach. Hanna Abbink is a cross country skier from Thunder Bay competing in the games.</p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning7:03Ontario Winter Games special: 2016 diving gold medalist Abbey Meloche

<p>Divers from across the province will by twisting, tucking, piking and somersaulting into the water this weekend at the Ontario Winter Games.&nbsp;And they'll do all that while trying to manage the nerves and excitement of competition. Thunder Bay diver Abbey Meloche knows that feeling all to well. She won the gold medal in the one-metre springboard event in the 2016 Ontario Games in Mississauga. Abbey had some words of advice for this year's competitors. </p><p><br></p>

Superior Morning6:19Ontario Winter Games special: Wrestlers Merric BeauParlant and Emily Harris

<p>Wrestlers Merric BeauParlant and Emily Harris are competing in the Ontario Winter Games this weekend. They joined us to talk about it.&nbsp;</p>

Superior Morning5:59Ontario Winter Games special: Futsal players Imogene Joseph and Aliviah Galle

<p>One of this weekend's sports in the spotlight is Futsal. And Lakehead will play host to the first Ontario Winter Games matches set for later this morning.&nbsp;For those who aren't familiar with it, it's the official FIFA version of indoor soccer with five players on each side, including the goalkeeper. So when you live somewhere that requires people to play soccer indoors in the winter months and you don't have a lot of space it's a good option.</p><p>Local players Imogene Joseph and Aliviah Galle spoke to Mary-Jean Cormier.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>

Follow this link to get the full schedule of sports for the weekend.