City of Vernon to enter race for B.C. Seniors Games

VERNON – The city is preparing to bid on a major sporting event, but it needs a little back-up from its neighbours.

The City of Vernon wants to host the 30th anniversary of the 55+ B.C. Games (formerly called the Seniors Games) in 2017 at its new sports track next to Okanagan College. It was unable to bid on the event in the past because the city lacked a certified running track.

“The potential economic impact of the 55+ B.C. Games is significantly higher than hosting other B.C. Games because participants are responsible for their own accommodations, meals and transportation,” Doug Ross, director of the city’s recreation services said in a release.
 
Vernon hosted the first B.C. Seniors Games in 1988 with 650 participants. Since then, the event has grown in size and economic impact, the city’s communications officer Tanya Laing Gahr said. The B.C. Seniors Games Society estimates the multi-sport event could bring in up to 4,000 athletes, friends and family to the Greater Vernon and Armstrong area with a projected economic impact of approximately $2.1 million.

Due to the size of the games and commitment required to host an event, the city is looking to submit a unified bid for the games in conjunction with the City of Armstrong and Greater Vernon participants including Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C. Both Armstrong and Greater Vernon have previously indicated they would be in favour of jointly hosting the event.

The aim will be to secure the games for 2017, but the city also plans to submit bids for 2018 and 2019.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.