By Jeff Labine

Melfort eyes 2020 summer games

Jun 15, 2017 | 2:00 PM

Melfort is looking to once again play host to the Saskatchewan Summer Games.

The first time the city hosted the games was back in 1988 but now, all eyes are on 2020. The games allow each district to pit their best athletes against each other for a shot to represent Saskatchewan at the national level. The sporting events range from baseball and soccer, to triathlons and tennis.

Teri Scaife, the director of community services, said the city is taking steps to be ready for the event in 2020.

“We don’t have a bid package yet to look at what exactly we have to put forward,” she said. “All we were asked on June 2 was to submit our intent to bid to the Saskatchewan Games Council for the 2020 Summer Games. We’re just waiting to see what the technical requirements are.”

One of the steps the city is already doing to prepare for the games is completing two soccer pitches. There could be more the city needs to do or the games, but Scaife said there’s no way to know for certain until the bidding packages are out.

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She said it’s hard to say at this point how good Melfort’s chances are of winning the bid.

“We haven’t had since 1988 and if we can get a really good team of individuals who will be able to sit on the board and help get this going, then I don’t see a reason why we wouldn’t be selected,” she said. “Estevan held this in 2016 and they generated about $7.9 million of economic benefit to their area. That included visitors, local spending, tax revenues and infrastructure upgrades.”

She added thousands come to the communities who host the games, which brings in even more economic benefit.

The deadline to submit the intent to bid is June 26. From there, the Saskatchewan Games Council will then forward the bidding documents to the communities who submitted. Scaife wasn’t sure what the bidding deadline will be, but has put out a call for volunteers to help with the games if the city is successful.

The 2018 winter games are scheduled to be held in North Battleford in February.

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter