July 21, 2017 - The City of Thunder Bay has taken the final step in the bid process to secure the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Special Olympics Canada officials arrived in Thunder Bay on July 20 for a two-day site visit which included a tour of the proposed venues and a presentation by the local Bid Committee. It is anticipated the Games will be awarded during the week of August 14th to 18th, 2017. The finalists are Thunder Bay and Regina, Saskatchewan.

One of the final site visit activities was a "Pep Rally" held on Friday morning at Mariners Hall at Prince Arthurs Landing attended by local Special Olympians and other supporters of the bid. The bid theme is "Hearts of Gold" to highlight Thunder Bay's community spirit and the fact that 2020 will be the City of Thunder Bay's 50th Golden Anniversary year. 

"We are really enjoying our site visit in Thunder Bay and the opportunity to review various aspects of the bid with organizers as well as tour some of the sites such as sport venues and accommodations which are critical to the success of hosting our National Games," said Blair McIntosh, VP Sport with Special Olympics Canada.

"The 2020 Games would be a wonderful signature event for the City's 50th anniversary celebrations," said Bid Committee Chair, Paul Burke. "We've done our best to demonstrate our community spirit and northern hospitality to Special Olympics Canada. If we receive the honour of hosting the 2020 Games we will treat the athletes and their families like gold."

The Special Olympics Canada Games began in 1974 and are national multi-sport Games for athletes with an intellectual disability. The Winter Games are held every four years and were last held in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland in 2016 where the estimated economic impact was $5.4 million. The event includes 8 sports: alpine skiing, 5-pin bowling, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating. The Games will require approximately 750 volunteers.

Bid supporters include tbaytel, Thunder Bay International Airport Authority, Union Gas, Tourism Northern Ontario, Mallons Promotional Clothing and Products, Dougall Media and the Chronicle-Journal. 

For info visit getthegames.ca.

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Contact: Paul Burke, Special Events Developer, 625-2305