Swimmer Owen Daly Selected as 2013 Canada Summer Games Flagbearer

Owen Daly, a member of the St. John’s Legends Swim Club, has been named Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s flagbearer for the 2013 Canada Summer Games being held August 2-17 in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, made the announcement last evening during Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s athletes’ rally held at the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre.

“I offer my sincerest congratulations to Owen on being selected Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s flagbearer,” said Minister French. “Being chosen as the flagbearer to represent your province at the Canada Games is truly an honour. I wish Owen and his fellow Team Newfoundland and Labrador members the very best as they get set to compete in the country’s most prestigious athletic competition next month in Quebec.”

Mr. Daly’s biographical information can be found in the backgrounder below.

A delegation of more than 340 athletes, volunteers, coaches, managers and mission staff will participate in the games for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Canada Games were established in 1967 and Newfoundland and Labrador has been represented at every event since. The games are held every two years, alternating summer and winter. The province hosted the 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's and the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook. For more information about Team Newfoundland and Labrador and the 2013 Canada Summer Games, visit: www.teamnl.ca

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future allocated approximately $8.3 million for ongoing support for recreation and sport in the province. Since the launch of the Provincial Government’s recreation and sport strategy Active, Healthy, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007, approximately $172 million has been committed to recreational and sport infrastructure, programming, and athlete development throughout the province, including investments in arenas and other athletic facilities.

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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information –Team Newfoundland and Labrador Flagbearer

Owen Daly
Owen Daly is from St. John’s and currently swims with the St. John’s Legends Swim Club. He excelled in the pool in 2012, racing against the big names in Canada in both the butterfly and freestyle sprint events. Mr. Daly finished first in the 100-metre free, 50-metre fly, 100-metre fly and the 50-metre free at the Long Course East Coast Championships in Halifax.

At the 2012 Canadian Eastern Nationals in Gatineau, Quebec, he finished first in the 50-metre fly, 50-metre free, and the 100-metre fly. Following his performance at the Eastern Nationals, Mr. Daly swam against the top swimmers in the country at the Canadian Olympic trials in Montreal where he placed 16th overall, just missing the finals and racing in consolation finals in his first National Team trials meet.

In addition to the Olympic trials, he also competed at the Vancouver Canada Cup and the Toronto Canada Cup. At all three national meets, he raced to second swims and was the top 17 and under in the country in at least one race. This year, Mr. Daly has been training with Team Newfoundland and Labrador swimming under the guidance of Head Coach Brad Hutton.

Mr. Daly was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year in 2012 by Sport Newfoundland and Labrador and has been a recipient of the Premier’s Athletic Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

2013 07 09             9:30 a.m.