Volunteers needed for ski championships and Special Olympics

YEAR OF TOURNAMENTS BEGINS

KAMLOOPS – As we head into February two groups are hopeful more volunteers will step forward to make the National Cross Country Championships and the Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games successful.

The Overlander Ski Club will be hosting the Canadian Masters National Cross Country Championships at Stake Lake Nordic Centre Feb. 8 to 14. The event will feature about 300 to 500 master skiers, over the age of 30, from both Canada and the United States.

From Feb. 19 to 21 the Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games will take place in Kamloops and Sun Peaks. About 600 athletes and 200 coaches will be in town looking to qualify for the 2016 Special Olympic Canada Winter Games.

The ski championships need volunteers for set up, course marking, crowd control, timing, aid stations, food services and more. The Special Olympics needs upwards of 1,000 volunteers to help cover security, food servers and general volunteer positions.

February will also host about 800 people for the annual Indoor Gran Fondo fundraiser at the Tournament Capital Centre, 300 people for the Van Ryswyk Indoor Track Meet and several smaller hockey and curling tournaments.

Other big tournaments this year include several soccer tournaments, track and field events, the 2015 Legacy Games, the Slow Pitch nationals and a couple of swim meets.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.