By Whitney Buettner

2014 Sask. Winter Games officials unveil mascots, add new sports

Apr 13, 2013 | 12:02 PM

The 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games are coming to Prince Albert.

Beginning February 16, 2014, the city will host more than 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials for a week-long celebration of winter sport.

Carlton Comprehensive Public High School will become the home away from home for the athletes, also known as “the athlete’s village.”

Robin Knudsen, executive director of Self Help and Recreation Education (S.H.A.R.E.), said he was thrilled to be the first sponsor of the Winter Games.

“Well for us to become the first sponsor, they needed a place to store all of the beds and all of the equipment that comes along with the games, and we happen to have a facility that was able to keep all of that and house everything. So when they came to us and asked us if they could use our facility, we said yes for sure. We were on board right away,” Knudsen explained.

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In previous years, S.H.A.R.E. has assisted with previous games that have taken place in Prince Albert. Services such as cleaning up and moving things were on the list, but nothing as big as being the host of the equipment for two years.

“For us, it was quite a big challenge but it was something we wanted to get involved with,” Knudsen said.

Al Dyer, the chair of the board of directors for the Winter Games, said it’s a great opportunity for Prince Albert to be host of this event.

“It’s been awhile since there has been an event of this magnitude in the city…We have thousands of people coming to the city to visit, and I think the data shows that when they come to visit they tend to spend,” Dyer said.

A total of 16 sports will be featured, including air pistol, figure skating, gymnastics and judo.

Two new sports, synchronized swimming and snowboarding, have been added to the list.

“I pushed quite hard to have snowboarding involved just because it is an Olympic sport, it is something that is very popular, not only here in Prince Albert, but in other locations around the province,” said Dyer.

Little Red River Park will become the host for the new winter event and Dyer is excited about it.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for a new sport to be showcased.”

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On Twitter: @w_buettner