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March 4, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Labrador named host for province's 1998 Winter Games

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Perry Canning, MHA - Labrador West, today announced that Labrador City-Wabush will become the host communities for the 1998 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games.

Government is committed to supporting the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games, Ms. Kelly said. "The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation will provide an operating grant of $150,000 to the host community."

On November 1, 1996, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation issued a public proposal call for communities or regions interested in hosting the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games in February of 1998. In adhering to a pre-established set of criteria, the three bidding communities and regions were ranked by government officials according to their ability to accommodate the various needs associated with hosting a Winter Games.

"Labrador City-Wabush is excited about hosting the 1998 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games," Perry Canning said. "This region offers an exceptional and consistent winter environment which is critical to the success of any Winter Games. Labrador City-Wabush also has the necessary physical infrastructure, volunteer base, and community development expertise to guarantee a first-rate Winter Games for Newfoundland and Labrador."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games are held every four years, alternating with the Summer Games on a two-year rotation. More than 1,200 athletes, coaches and managers are expected to attend the games in Labrador City-Wabush in February or March of 1998. Athletes will range in age from 10 years of age to under 19 years of age. The most recent host communities of the games include: 1996 Conception Bay South Summer Games; 1994 Clarenville Winter Games; 1992 Harbour Grace-Carbonear Summer Games; and 1990 Lewisporte Winter Games.

One of the greatest advantages to any host community of the Newfoundland and Labrador Games is community development," Ms. Kelly. "These games will also work to raise the profile of Labrador City-Wabush on both a provincial and national level. This venue will provide the region with a platform to showcase its superb winter tourism product."

The Recreation and Sport Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation is responsible for the financial and administrative services for the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer/Winter Games. The first games under the current format took place in the summer of 1976 in Stephenville - Corner Brook.

"Labrador City-Wabush will immediately begin the process of planning and organizing for the province's premier multi-sport event," Mr. Canning said. "The community is looking forward to meeting and exceeding the challenge that lies ahead."

Contact: Laura Cochrane, Director of Communications, (709) 729-0928.


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BACKGROUNDER

Labrador host for province's 1998 Winter Games

Objectives of the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer/Winter Games:

1. Mass Participation:

To encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of various ages and abilities to participate in the amateur sport of their choice for fitness and enjoyment.

To stimulate interest in amateur sport at the local community level. 2. Excellence:

To develop improved levels of athletic achievement. To discover and identify athletes with potential to proceed to higher levels of competition.

To permit a large number of young people to participate in athletic competition with emphasis on development and excellence.

3. Physical Fitness:
To motivate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to achieve a higher level of physical fitness through more active participation in amateur sport. To demonstrate through any level of athletic accomplishment the benefits that can be derived from physical training and self- discipline.

4. To stimulate enthusiasm throughout the province in amateur sport.

5. To illustrate that progress is being made in the development of amateur sport at the regional level.

6. To focus attention on physical recreation thus stimulating both parents and young people to become actively involved.

7. To activate, strengthen and assist the province-wide organization and development of provincial sport organizations.

8. To strengthen these provincial sport organizations by increasing public support as a result of increased publicity and public awareness.

9. To provide competition at a level that will best serve the development needs for each sport throughout each region of the province.

10. To strengthen mutual understanding and friendship among youth from different areas in Newfoundland and Labrador and to encourage provincial unity through amateur sport.

11. To encourage the development of team spirit and a sense of fairness and good judgement in competition.

12. To allow opportunity for involvement of varied cultural activities.