By Adam Ophus

It's time!

Alberta Masters Games set to hit Rocky

Aug 21, 2019 | 8:42 AM

The Alberta Masters Games are upon us with this Thursday’s opening ceremonies set to bring pyrotechnics, local dancers and cheerleaders, dignitaries and concerts.

It took a myriad of people to bring the games together from sports, volunteers, events, coordinators and much more.

Games Co-ordinator Shianne Artzen reminisced about how often things had to change and evolve from one thing to another and is excited to see how everything turns out.

“Many times we though, this original plan is not going to work, what are we going to do. So I’m really anxious to get out there and see, did our plan that we came up with in the middle of the night actually work, is it all going to be alright? It will be interesting to see how it all plays out and everything did change along the way,” she said with a laugh.

Volunteer Director Jana Thomson helped in getting people ready for the massive four day event with a volunteer orientation day on August 11.

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“Just the flow of information from the people who have been working on this for like a year and a half, and now it’s kind of tightening up and getting those volunteers the information makes it feel real now, and made it come to life,” said Thomson.

By August 11, they had 550 registered volunteers and have now more than 600 ready to host over a 1000 participants of the games, and the multitude of spectators that will be flooding into Rocky and Clearwater County.

“For all of us being so new, we haven’t had a games in Rocky before, just to see it all come together is beautiful,” Thomson expressed with an obvious show of pride in the event.

Locals competing in the games have taken things quite seriously, and have been working diligently to prepare.

“Well just about every day I swim, bike or run, I mean, I think it’s probably all I have done in 57 of the last 60 days,” shares participant James Wade of Rocky Mountain House.

“I’ve done at least one, if not two of the events or two of the distances while practicing. I also did the triathlon in Stettler to get ready for this one. My father’s doing it with me as well, he’s significantly older than I am. It’s kind of the battle between us, we’ll see what happens race day.”

Although the Alberta Masters Games is only four days long, many in the community are hoping they will have a lasting effect for years to come.

None more so than Sports Director for the 2019 Alberta Masters Games Marc Mundell who believes that although the games are for an older generation, youth in Rocky will also benefit.

“I believe in happy adults make happy kids, and active adults make active kids,” Mundell conveyed his thoughts of the possibilities of the games.

“We’re just trying to see how we can spread that through as well as to try and get kids active in the community, and the best way for the kids to be active is by watching their parents being active and the games is really just such a fantastic catalyst for that in Rocky and the Next Generation coming through.”

Mayor Tammy Burke expressed her excitement for the Alberta Masters Games and all the hard work locals have put into making the event unforgettable.

“We want to (it) be a success, and we want to showcase our community and we are very much looking forward to hosting and welcoming anybody that is coming to participate in the games.”

The Alberta Masters Games runs from August 22-25 with the opening ceremonies starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (gates opening at 5 p.m)

https://albertasport.ca/alberta-games/alberta-masters-games/