Winnipeg hosting 2018 Canada Deaf Games

The country’s top deaf and hard of hearing athletes are in Winnipeg as the city plays host to the 2018 Canada Deaf Games Feb. 21-24.

Five sports are featured at the event, including basketball, bowling, curling, ice hockey, and volleyball.

Action began Wednesday morning and goes until Saturday and features around 175 athletes.

RELATED: Winnipeg curling teams to represent Canada at Deaflympics

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“We want people to know that deaf people can definitely be involved in high-level sports competition,” Ross Lavallee, a member of one of two Manitoba deaf curling teams at the event, said.

“This is an opportunity to get the word out there and have more people come to understand deaf athletics.”

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Lavallee, along with teammates John Gesner, Shawn Demianyk and Kayle Miller won the 2017 World Deaf Curling Championship in Sochi, Russia.

The winning men’s and women’s curling teams will represent Canada at the 2019 Deaflympics, while the hockey competition will be used to scout players for Team Canada at the Deaflympics.

Former Winnipeg Jets player Jim Kyte is taking part in the five-team hockey tournament along with eight members of his family.

A full list of locations and game times can be found at the Canadian Deaf Sports Association’s website.