The University of British Columbia (UBC) welcomes the announcement today that the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games will be held in Vancouver and that the University will be the host venue for the competition being held from July 8 to 12, 2014. The Games will feature athletes with an intellectual disability from across the country going for gold in 11 sports.
“UBC is delighted to host such extraordinary athletes on our campus and is committed to helping make these Games a success for both the competitors and the organizers,” said Stephen Owen, Vice President, External, Legal and Community Relations. “As a university, we are uniquely positioned to support the Games competition and contribute to public dialogue related to sport, inclusion and disability.”
UBC is working with Special Olympics Canada to create a multi-venue plan to support the delivery of the events. The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre will host the opening and closing ceremonies, while residence facilities will serve as the Athlete’s Village to accommodate up to 1,800 athletes, coaches and officials from across Canada.
“UBC offers many qualities that will contribute to our success,” said Dan Howe, President and CEO, Special Olympics BC. “They have shown they can provide excellent facilities and strong volunteer support from their community, and they can also stimulate discussion and awareness about issues that are important to athletes with an intellectual disability and their families.”
This is the second time that UBC has been a host venue for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games – the first was in 1990. UBC served as a host venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games men’s and women’s ice hockey, and Paralympic sledge hockey.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provided our team with insight into hosting large-scale competitions, and we’re hoping to bring that talent and knowledge to contribute to the success of these Games,” said Michelle Aucoin, Managing Director of Community Engagement and past Director of the UBC Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat. “The Special Olympic Canada Summer Games creates an opportunity to profile our world-class venues, to contribute to delivering the Games, and to inspire an academic and community dialogue.”
The 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games is the premier national sporting event for Canadian Special Olympics athletes. Athletes competing at the Summer Games events could qualify to represent Canada at the 2015 Special Olympic World Summer Games.