The Yukon will host the Canada Games in 2007

The Canada Games will be hosted by a territory for the first time in games history. Today, the City of Whitehorse received, from the federal government, the additional $20 million capital funding support necessary for its bid to receive final approval by the Canada Games Council.

"The Canada Games will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2007 and what better place to host that milestone than in Whitehorse, Yukon," explains Larry Smith, chairman of the Canada Games Council. "Bravo to the bid committee. Your efforts are being recognized today. And to the Government of Canada, congratulations for making it possible for the Canada Games to make its mark in the North."

The Yukon stated its interest in hosting a Canada Winter Games back in 1987 and, in 1989, got placed on the hosting cycle set by the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for sport. Doug Inglis, chair of the Whitehorse bid, remembers one year minus a day ago, when the Canada Games Council Site Evaluation Committee visited Whitehorse. "We knocked their socks off. Many wondered if Whitehorse was ready for an event the size of the Canada Games. To each and every person that worked to make this a reality, you have helped to land the Canadian sporting jewel. You should be proud, you deserve to smile, you deserve to stand up and say, WE DID IT CANADA."

A Canada Winter Games host community receives $2 million of capital funding from each of the three levels of government for a total of $6 million. In addition, it receives an additional $3.85 million in operating, $2.95 million from the Government of Canada and $900,000 from the host province or territory. In the case of the Yukon bid, an additional $20 million was required in order to ensure the needed infrastructure for the hosting of the 21 sports on the program of the Canada Winter Games.

Lucy Steele-Masson, Canada Games alumni and honourary chair of the 2007 bid was thrilled with the news. "What a proud moment for Whitehorse and what a boost for sport in the Yukon. There are few opportunities in the Yukon to see elite sport. When the young kids up here experience the Canada Games, it will be like watching the Olympics for them. That�s how I remember them in 1987 and again in 1991 in PEI. And what an experience the 2007 Canada Games will be for everyone coming from south of 60�."

The Canada Games are the only multi-sport event of its kind in Canada. Since the first games in 1967 in Qu�bec City, over 50,000 young athletes have participated in the Canada Games. They are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer games. The next Canada Winter Games will be held in Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick from February 22 to March 8, 2003. Regina, Saskatchewan will host the next Canada Summer Games in 2005.

Media contact:

Gis�le Regimbal, Director of Communications
Canada Games Council, (613) 526-2320, gregimbal@canadagames.ca.

2002 05 30                                12:35 p.m.