Roughly 1,800 people descended on North Battleford over seven days for the Saskatchewan Winter Games.
The athletes, coaches, managers, officials and mission staff hailed from more than 300 communities. Over 1,200 volunteers from the Battlefords and surrounding area took part.
The Winter Games leave a legacy of $500,000 in venue and equipment upgrades in the area.
“We feel that we’ve left a big legacy in the community, both in sport facility and equipment upgrades and in civic pride. It was just a ton of fun – the athletes were happy, and that’s the biggest goal,” Games manager Nicole Clow said in a news release.
Athletes aged 11 to 17 made up the majority of the just under 1,400 competitors in 17 winter sports.
For many, it was their first foray into multi-sport games.
“This week these athletes have participated in something bigger than their sport,” Chantelle Patrick, chairperson of the Saskatchewan Games Council, said in the release.
“It’s our hope that these Games have challenged, motivated and inspired these athletes towards a successful future in sport and in life.”
The next edition of the Saskatchewan Games is planned for 2020, as Lloydminster hosts the Summer Games.