Sport has been her life for many years, and now she shares it with others.
After competing, coaching and immersing herself in many different facets of amateur sport at national, provincial Summer and Winter Games, Nicole Clow is set to guide Estevan’s run up to 2016, when the city will play to the Saskatchewan Summer Games.
The Carnduff native still has to tend to the Canada Winter Gameswith Team Sask. in Prince George, B.C. before she makes her way to Estevan.
“A lot of my specific skills are in Games events,” said Clow, who has been an athlete, coach, mission staff member, co-ordinator and Chef de Mission within the Games programs.
All of that experience means Clow has a good idea of is ahead of the Estevan Games committee in the next 16 months. There are a number of divisions within the board, and Clow will primarily be co-ordinating the efforts between the division.
“(I’ll) make sure the communication is going there so people know that maybe there is some sponsorship needed here in the sports side of things, stuff like that,” she said.
She will have a hand in the entire operation from now until next summer and will help guide everything from where the athletes will be staying to where various amounts of funding should be allocated.
“A general organization and co-ordination of efforts may be the best description,” Clow said of her role.
Clow was the Chef de Mission, head of Team Sask., during the Summer Games in Meadow Lake. Her background is in track and field, and she spent her athletic career as a thrower, which she did at the University of Regina.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen change is just the various roles. As an athlete you have no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes. Even as a coach, you don’t necessarily realize these people are working for two years in advance to ensure the venues are set and all the logistics are organized,” said Clow, who noted there has been a growing emphasis on lasting legacies of the Games.
Because of her track background, she said she is excited to see what comes of the new track and field facilities in Estevan prior to the Games.
“It’s awesome for me, seeing as that is my sport, to see the development of the track, because it’s going to be huge for Estevan, I’m hoping, and southeast Saskatchewan in general,” she added.
“The last couple of months leading up to the Games, the hype will be huge. Right now, people are aware they’re coming. Some are being approached for sponsorship and starting to recognize that we’re going to need a couple thousand volunteers,” said Clow, who noted that now the calendar has changed to 2015, the sense of urgency will slowly pick up.
Growing up Carnduff, Clow has been familiar with the Energy City for most of her life.
“Estevan has been a stone’s throw away my entire life. I’ve competed at a lot of the venues and I know a lot of people here,” she said, comparing the community atmosphere in Meadow Lake to the one she expects to experience in Estevan. “Being a smaller community, kind of like Estevan, you see the whole community buy in.
“This group particularly has shown there is a very key group of people who have put in a lot of effort. I think that passion spreads to the work they’re doing, and hopefully by the time the Games are here, you’ll see everyone in Estevan on board with what’s happening and aware that these kids walking around in these pink uniforms, they’ll know why they’re there,” said Clow.
“The whole community is stellar, and you’ve got a lot going for you in Estevan. It really will show when all those kids arrive – land is the term we use – and you’ll see that community spirit come to a head.”
