Thunder Bay's all set to host the 2024 Ontario Winter Games

After a year of planning, the Ontario Winter Games are almost here.

The event, which will draw young athletes aged 12-18 from across the province to Thunder Bay, officially kicks off on Friday.

"Things are starting to fall into place," games coordinator Matthew Lawrence said during a news conference on Tuesday. "We're getting pretty excited.'

"It's been a long year of planning and I think our committee is just finally ready to to see the fruits of our labour, and to watch those kids compete."

The games officially begin Friday evening, with opening ceremonies scheduled for Fort William Historical Park. Competition will be split between two weekends: Feb. 16-19, and Feb. 23-26 (another opening ceremony will be held on Feb. 23 to kick off the second weekend).

A full schedule of events is available on the Ontario Winter Games website.

Wrestlers Emily Harris and Merric BeauParlant will be among the Thunder Bay athletes competing at the games.

"I'm feeling kinda nervous, but I'm really excited," Harris said. "I love competing, and I just love hanging out with the team."

BeauParlant, meanwhile, said he's also excited for the chance to compete at this year's games.

"I'm just going to keep the same mindset I do from every other tournament," he said. "Be strong, be quick, be confident."

Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff said the excitement for the games in the community is "palpable."

"That's the way you want to start things off," he said. "You can really pick up on the energy."

Boshcoff said he'll be taking in as many events as he can during the games.

"I urge everybody to come out and and and say hello and because we're very fortunate to have this," he said. "We want to show off the fact that we're the greatest hosts in Canada."

Lawrence said he hopes the games will get city residents "re-engaged in sport, wanting to officiate, wanting to coach, getting involved in the local clubs."

"And for the folks coming from out of town, we hope to show them real Thunder Bay hospitality and encourage them to come back," he said. "Whether they want to come to school here in the future, competing as varsity athletes in the university or at the college, or even just exposing them to places like Fort William Historical Park, the marina, and showing them just how beautiful Thunder Bay is, so that when they come back they have an interest in tourism and exploring our region."

Friday's opening ceremonies get underway at 5 p.m. at Fort William Historical Park, and will feature a live performance by Thunder Bay's Lockyer Boys.

The sports featured in this year's winter games are:

• Five-pin bowling;
• Archery;
• Artistic swimming;
• Badminton;
• Biathlon;
• Cross-country skiing;
• Curling;
• Diving;
• Fencing;
• Futsal;
• Men's hockey;
• Ringette, and
• Wrestling.

Some provincial sports organizations, however, have pulled out of the games, citing high costs and travel issues: as a result, alpine skiing, para nordic skiing, and weightlifting competitions won't be held this year.

Admission to all Ontario Winter Games events is free.