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Athletes competing in Calgary get full Games experience

Feb 25, 2019 | 10:59 PM

Save for one broken down bus which caused a short delay to competition, the Calgary portion of the 2019 Canada Winter Games went off without a hitch.

Artistic swimming was held during week one at the Repsol Sport Centre, and halfpipe athletes will battle it out at Canada Olympic Park during week two. Alpine skiing events are also now taking place at Nakiska.

According to one athlete from Team BC, the experience was what she expected it to be.

“I was kind of surprised with just how many people showed up to all the events even though we weren’t in Red Deer,” says 18-year-old Zara Herbert, whose synchro squad finished 4th in the team competition.

“It felt like nationals because it was only synchro people there, but it still felt like something bigger.”

Herbert says though it was somewhat disappointing to not be able to compete in Red Deer, they were able to take in the opening ceremony before spending a couple days post-competition exploring the primary host city.

Artistic swimming was held in Calgary due to Red Deer’s lack of a suitable aquatic facility, something Herbert would encourage the powers to change.

“There’s been a similar issue in Vancouver with only valuing recreation when it comes to facilities being built, and it becomes very challenging for synchro clubs here to find pools that work for synchro,” she says.

“Also, if there aren’t facilities available it hinders young athletes’ abilities to improve, which contributes to the same provinces coming out on top in competition due to better resources.”

2019 Games Vice-Chair Hugh McPherson notes that it wasn’t lost on organizers that athletes competing outside of Red Deer should be treated the same as those in Red Deer.

“We’ve made sure those athletes had the opportunity to come to Red Deer for a period of time, integrate with our Canada Games environment here, and then go to those villages to compete,” he says. “We made sure those young athletes could share the whole experience of the Games.”

From an operational perspective, Games CEO Scott Robinson says the events held in Calgary were fantastic.

“We had great crowds for the team events, especially. Everything went very smoothly, and the athletes, coaches and mission staff were very happy with both the venues and their accommodations. They had their own little village at the Delta in downtown Calgary,” Robinson explains.

“We have had great cooperation and partnerships with the venues and with volunteers, and local clubs getting involved, and again, it’s just a good example of how the sport community comes together when needed.”

Alpine skiing now takes centre stage as far as outside of Red Deer competition is concerned, with races taking place at Nakiska Ski Resort in Kananaskis.

“Nakiska is very used to hosting national events. It’s a national training centre for Alpine Canada, as well as Alpine Alberta,” Robinson says. “They host events probably every year, so they’re well prepared to host it from operational and spectator points of view.”

Following the Games, exit surveys will be conducted asking athletes and coaches about their overall experience. Results should come out sometime in the fall.