iN NUMBERS: Major sports events in Okanagan, Kamloops this year

The Olympics are over. We cheered, cried, laughed and winced. But if you still want to support local athletes there are going to be a lot of opportunities to do so in Kelowna and around the Southern Interior this year.

Kelowna is hosting the Memorial Cup, BC Lions games and the BC Summer Games, and there are more events around the area coming this year.

Here are the numbers:

• 17,500: Fans are expected to watch the Touchdown Kelowna BC Lions games.
• 70: Million dollars. That’s the estimated economic impact of Touchdown Kelowna.
• 19: Sports are going to be featured at the BC Summer Games in Kelowna.
• 4: Times. That’s how many times Kelowna has been picked as the host for the BC Games.
• 4,000: Room nights. That’s how many hotel bookings are expected from the Memorial Cup in Kelowna this year.
• 35.9: Million dollars. That was the economic impact of the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops, and Tourism Kelowna expects similar numbers this year.
• 106: Hockey teams are going to face-off in Penticton for the Canadian Sports School Hockey League Championships in March.
• 3,500: People are expected to compete in the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops this fall.
• 40: Years. That’s how long Vernon has been doing its Funtastic Slo-Pitch Tournament.