B.C. Special Olympics coming to Kamloops in 2017

KAMLOOPS – The Tournament Capital will be hosting the 2017 B.C. Special Olympics summer games.

This will be the fourth time the city has hosted the games with the last time being 2015 when the winter edition of the games took place here. The 2017 games are expected to be the biggest edition ever, with nearly 1,300 competitors coming to the city with 350 coaches and support staff, according to a media release.

The city has decided to contribute $20,000 for the games and will make in-kind donations as well. The organizers are also looking to use some of the school district's facilities.

“We are so excited to go back to Kamloops where we know the people, the facilities, and what this city can do,” spokesperson Lois McNary says in the release. “We really feel these will be an exceptional set of Games.”

Participants will be in Kamloops from July 6 to July 9 with competitions held on July 7 and July 8.

Top performers will move on to the national games the next year, while best athletes at the national level move on to the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

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