The facilities that will be used for the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan have received the thumbs up from representatives of the nine sports districts in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Games Council and the chairpersons for those sports.
The local Games committee hosted about 50 delegates from across the province on April 29 and 30. Not only did they visit the different venues that will host the sporting events during the Games, but they viewed the other areas that will be used, such as Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), which will serve as the Games’ Village.
Games manager Nicole Clow said the delegates were very impressed.
“The district representatives made it clear that there’s some passion here, and it came through on the tour,” she said in an interview with the Mercury. “That definitely instilled some confidence that the venues will be completely ready and good to go for the Games.”
The local Games committee also made presentations and showed delegates the plans for each sport. Delegates had the opportunity to ask questions.
There were few questions, Clow said, which she views as a sign that the local Games committee is on track to accommodate the needs of the athletes and everyone else who will be in Estevan for the Games.
The athletes’ care and comfort is a big emphasis for the district representatives, and they were impressed with the plans for accommodations and meals at ECS.
“They were very happy with the plans at the school, and when they walked through the school, they saw the potential for how it is going to work,” said Clow. “It is going to be a really safe zone and it is going to be laid out really well.”
One of the first sports facilities they visited was the Chamney Running Track at Panteluk Athletic Field, which opened last summer.
“I think that was a good place to start, because one of the delegates, who is also one of the district representatives, was on the site tour (in 2013),” said Clow. “So when the dirt track was still there, she was here.
“When they pitched to the bid committee that there would be this new, fantastic track, and it’s not going to be an issue, and we’ll have it here on time, they had faith it would happen, or they wouldn’t have awarded Estevan the Games. But at the same time, I think it was hard to envision.
“To see her reaction was pretty great, because she was the only one there who really knew what was in existence, and how much had been done.”
Clow believes it’s now a top-notch facility that is matched by only a few in the province.
There weren’t any concerns about other facilities, including the tennis courts at ECS, which need to be refurbished before the Games begin.
“I think they have full faith, after seeing what the committee did to get that track in place, that they will do what they need to do to make sure the facilities needed will be there,” said Clow.
They also visited Affinity Place, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and some of the basketball games. It was at the same time as the opening game for the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup, and so the delegates got to see how it can host big events.
There will be some tweaks needed at other venues before the Games. An announcer’s booth will be added to the Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds. But most adjustments will be relatively minor, and Clow is confident that all the facilities to be utilized at the Games will be in top shape for the event, which runs from July 24 to 30.
