In order to provide information and answer common questions, the host committee for the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games held a launch for the local business community on May 13.
The event, held at the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute, provided information on the various sports that will be contested, as well as the venues, including a new track and field facility at Estevan Comprehensive School.
"We wanted to get out there what we've been working on and where we see things going," said Brenda Lyons, the committee's marketing and promotions co-chair.
Each sport had representatives at the event, along with their own table, to "explain what their plans are tentatively for the Games and how many athletes there will be, to give a brief synopsis and answer questions. That was really nice to have and get all of us in the same room together."
In attendance to answer questions were Ken Jacobs, design engineer and project manager for the new track, as well as John Konihowski, a consultant for the facility.
"Things are progressing very, very well and we are hoping to have the ground-breaking ceremony in mid-June," Lyons said.
The track facility is expected to cost about $1.2 million.
There were several presentations during the event, including the introduction of the Friends of the Games committee, co-chaired by Bernie Bjorndalen and Kelly McConnell. The committee is tasked with fundraising. Bjorndalen and McConnell were the emcees for the evening.
The committee acknowledged a donation from the Coal Country Run, with the proceeds from this year's event going toward the track.
"They obviously have a vested interest (in the new facility)," said Lyons. "That kind of confirms to us planners that there is interest in the community, not just from the high school students, but the people who run and need this facility."
The host committee also announced its first diamond sponsor, Dayman Trucking, in recognition of an in-kind donation. The Estevan 2016 group had to find a place to store the more than 1,000 bunk beds required for the Games. Dayman Trucking stepped up by donating eight C cans for storage.
As a diamond sponsor, Dayman Trucking had a choice of the 13 sports venues to attach their name to. The baseball fields will be known as the Dayman Trucking Baseball Venue during the Games.
Lyons said she hopes that incentive will encourage other businesses to step up, as there are only 12 venues left. She added the venue naming rights are a first for the Games.
Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Games mascots were unveiled at the launch. They are Ravi and Tansi, a brother-sister whitetail deer pair. They served as the mascots of the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina, and at the conclusion of that event, they were given to the Saskatchewan Games Council, which adopted them.
Although the launch was a small event, Lyons said she was happy to see the members of the business community that showed up.
"It's a busy, busy time, so we're really happy with the people who came out. Some of the people we specifically wanted to be here were here. We had a great opportunity to answer questions and talk to people.
"The organizing committee did a fantastic job. It's an exciting way to get the ball rolling. It's very important and very exciting for us because there's a lot of us that have been doing work in the background, so it's nice to say, 'this is what we've done so far' and put it all in one room."
Lyons was also happy with the number of people at the event who wanted to volunteer and said a list is starting to be formed.
There will be a larger community-wide launch in the beginning of September where more information will be released.
