The Tony Cote Games was set to take place a venues around the city including the Art Hauser Centre. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

COVID-19

2020 Tony Cote Winter Games cancelled

Mar 13, 2020 | 1:07 PM

The 2020 Tony Cote Winter Games, which were set to bring nearly 10,000 athletes, coaches and spectators to Prince Albert are cancelled due to concerns of COVID-19.

Every hotel in the city had been booked for the weeklong event, scheduled to run from April 12-17, with teams from First Nations across Saskatchewan preparing to converge on Prince Albert.

“We the host chiefs and organizers, feel that it is of the utmost importance that the health and safety of our athletes, families, volunteers, staff and organizers be a priority at this time,” the 2020 Tony Cote Games said in a media release.

The release further stated organizers are assured that James Smith Cree Nation, Sturgeon Lake First Nation and Wahpeton Dakota Nation will remain the host communities for the 2022 Tony Cote Winter Games.

The decision to cancel the games followed a Thursday announcement from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), postponing all FSIN-related sporting events, gatherings, conferences and forums until further notice in an effort to restrict potential COVID-19 cases.

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P.A. Chamber of Commerce CEO Elise Hildebrandt told paNOW she was “saddened” the region wouldn’t see the economic activity the games were set to generate, but ultimately it was a necessary decision.

“If is what is needed in order for us to slow down or prevent people from getting infected with it then this is a great call,” she said.

Tony Cote Winter Games Manager Tami MacKenzie was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom