The pinnacle of success for amateur athletes is unquestionably the Olympic Games, but, for the majority of young athletes, the Canada Games is a great substitute.
The Canada Games, first held in 1969 in Halifax, are – like the Olympics – held every two years, alternating between summer and winter events. The 2009 Canada Summer Games are on P.E.I., while the 2011 Canada Winter Games will be hosted in Halifax (with the skiing competition held at Ski Martock).
Since I’ve been reporting on the Canada Games, our area has always been fairly well represented at the competition; this year is no exception.
The 2009 Canada Summer Games get underway Aug. 15 and will continue for two weeks at various locations and venues throughout P.E.I. Some sports will be played in the first week, and others in the second.
The final makeup of the Nova Scotia team had not been determined as I write this (rugby, for one, had yet to finalize its rosters), but we should have plenty of local athletes to cheer for during the national competition.
One thing to remember about the Canada Games is that there are different criteria, and different age limits, for different sports.
Canada Games athletics (track and field), for example, is an under-23 competition, leaving it open to competitors in up to their third or even fourth year of university. Local athletes like Chris Theriau, Jan Stirling, Mason Foote and Nicole Larade (all attending university) are able to compete; along with others, like Britany MacArthur, still in high school.
Steve Wohlmuth of Port Williams, the founder and head coach of the Launchers Athletics throwing club, is the head coach for the Nova Scotia track and field contingent.
For swimming and basketball, the Canada Games is an under-17 (or 17 and under) event. Four Wolfville Tritons – Nicole Campbell, Mary Claire Lynch, Ceilidh MacPherson and Luc Boudreau – are on the Nova Scotia swim team, with Triton Kristen MacPherson an alternate.
Three local athletes will compete in basketball – Thomas Baltzer and Chris Babin on the boys’ side and Kira Pederson on the girls’ side. Tim Kendrick of New Minas is head coach of the Nova Scotia boys’ basketball team, with Marvin Rhyno and John Bustin serving as two of his assistants.
Volleyball has lots of local representation, with Vanessa St. Georges playing on the girls’ team and Daniel Rogers, Taylor Rombaut, Rob Van Nuland and Adam Spurrell part of the boys’ squad.
Beach volleyball, also a Canada Games sport, is an all-Acadia showcase, at least on the female side. Axewomen coach Joffre Ribout is chair of elite beach volleyball for the province, Nova Scotia team members Pam Giordano and Melanie McKinnon are both Acadia students and alternate Cassandra Teed is headed there this fall.
Courtney Balcome and Ally Tidcombe will compete for Nova Scotia in golf at the Games; Zach Shaffelburg, Jacob Che, Taylor Wade and Alana Fairfax in soccer; Garret McLeod in cycling. In fact, when McLeod takes to the course in the first week of the Games, he will achieve a rare accomplishment: competing for Nova Scotia in both the winter (skiing) and summer (cycling) Games.
I’m sure, between now and the start of the Games, I’ll hear of other local athletes who are part of Team Nova Scotia. I wish them all luck in their quest for a medal. If that isn’t in the cards, have fun and represent their province (and area) to the best of their ability.
Canada Games unique opportunity for local athletes
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