LETHBRIDGE – The 2015 Alberta 55+ Winter Games officially kicked off on Wednesday with the torch lighting by Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman.
The southern Alberta city will play host to 1,000 participants and guests from across the province. Athletes, volunteers and fans were on hand at the First Choice Savings Centre as two torches made their way around the indoor track.
“It’s fantastic,” said Games ambassador Marnie Brown. “It’s fun and it’s humbling.”
Participants will compete in 14 different events, including curling, hockey, darts, bowling and soccer.
Event organizers wanted to highlight the importance of family at the event by ensuring the torches were never carried alone, instead passing from hand to hand, highlighting the theme of this year’s Games: “Warm Your Heart.”
“We felt it was important to incorporate families and multi-generations into the concept,” said Lea Switzer, chair of the Games.
From nine-months to 90-years-old, 16 families from three generations helped carry the special torches.
Area residents can take part in the Games by attending a variety of events for anyone young or young at heart. The ATCO Gas Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 19 and Closing Ceremonies on Feb. 22 are both open to the public.
Opening Ceremonies take place Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Enmax Centre. Events start across the city Friday morning.
For more details on the games and a full schedule visit the website here.
Keep in mind that mild temperatures are affecting the Games: Alpine skiing is cancelled because of the closure of the event’s venue, Castle Mountain Resort.
READ MORE: Castle Mountain Resort closes for winter due to warm weather, lack of snow
“The process for the event cancellation will be the same as the earlier cross country skiing cancellation,” said Switzer in a statement on the website. “Alpine skiing participants will be contacted and their registration fees will be returned.”
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