Medicine Hat Media

2008 Alberta Summer Games Success Leaves Lasting Legacy for Culture and Sport

Medicine Hat’s 2008 Alberta Summer Games will make an impact on ‘Hatters’ lives for decades to come as a result of a donation made today to the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta.

The Summer Games Society presented a cheque for nearly $142,000 to the Community Foundation today at the Family Leisure Centre to create the “Medicine Hat 2008 Alberta Summer Games Fund.” The money will be used to support sports and cultural activities within Southeastern Alberta.

Games Society vice chair Dr. Ken Sauer said he was thrilled to be forwarding this legacy onto the Foundation.

“We are very thankful that an organization like the Community Foundation is available to carry forward the legacy left by the 2008 Summer Games,” he said.

The fund will support sport activities including bids for any level of organized games that could lead to the Olympics or the Para-Olympics; bids for organized games for seniors; as well as sports for youth in the area. Cultural activities in Medicine Hat & Southeastern Alberta will also be considered.

“The games attracted nearly 3000 athletes, coaches and officials who participated in the 15 sports available to young Albertans,” said Games Society chair Ron Zablocki. “Our community pride was evident as the games drew on the skills of approximately 2500 volunteers who contributed to the success of the games.”

Zablocki also noted other marks that the Games made on our community.

“In addition to this permanently endowed fund, the games have left a lasting legacy within the city,” he said. “A prime example of this is the $1.2 million all-weather track located at Crescent Heights High School. We also benefited from other new facilities and venue upgrades, and the city came away with a huge sense of pride and competition from hosting the Games.”

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