Special Olympics raises flag at city hall marking one week until games begin

Athletes, city officials, and games organizers gathered at city hall to kick-start the one week countdown until the beginning of the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay.

Athletes and members of the Special Olympics Cheer Squad stood alongside Rebecca Johnson, acting Mayor for the City of Thunder Bay, who raised the Special Olympics Canada flag at city hall on Tuesday. 

"This is a big event for Thunder Bay," Johnson said at the flag raising ceremony. "The hosting of the Special Olympians, that will be something so special for this week and you'll be able to welcome them throughout the community." 

Big events 'better it is for tourism'

The games officially start on February 25, 2020 and will take place in various locations across Thunder Bay until the 29th. 

Opening ceremonies will take place on February 25, but it is a sold-out event.

Johnson said the planning of the games has been a true community effort, especially when it comes to fundraising.

Fundraising through the draft an athlete program is still open to the public, and is $60,000 short of reaching its fundraising goal of $300,000.

"City council has given a contribution to the games," she said. "We feel really strongly as a city council that the more events that we have the better it is for tourism, but also for the revenues that come into our city."

Barry Streib, Chair of the Games Organizing Committee, said the games estimated that the event will bring in over $7 million to the city of Thunder Bay

"We're ready and we can't wait for it to begin, especially for our athletes because I know they're excited too," he said.

Encompasses the whole community 

Streib added that the scope of the Games encompasses the whole community, which includes over a thousand volunteers and several venues that will be used throughout the week-long event. 

Eight events will be taking place during the Games, including alpine and cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing, speed skating, and five-pin bowling.

Streib said the magnitude of the event is something to be proud of as a city, and he hopes people in Thunder Bay take the opportunity to check out some of the sporting events taking place.

"We have established ourselves as a community that has come to that level of professionalism...to say that we are a community that can host major events," he said.

Over 2000 people will be traveling to Thunder Bay from across the country to participate in the games. 

Thunder Bay hosted the provincial Special Olympics Winter Games in 2011, which saw about 400 athletes. This year the Canada Winter Games will include over 1000 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff.