THUNDER BAY – The city will compete to be the host city for a national Special Olympics event.
Council on Monday unanimously endorsed a potential bid to host the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, an event that would bring 1,200 athletes, coaches, team managers and mission staff to Thunder Bay.
If successful, the games would be held nearly a decade after Thunder Bay was home to the 2011 Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games. The national event is estimated to be about three times the size of that competition.
Athletes would compete in eight sports – alpine skiing, five-pin bowling, curling, figure skating, speed skating, Nordic skiing, floor hockey and snow shoeing.
Paul Burke, the city’s special events developer, said the commitment to host would likely not require the construction of new facilities nor any significant upgrades.
The bid committee said hosting the games would require a total budget of about $1.5 million, of which $650,000 would be provided by Special Olympics Canada with the balance coming from registration fees, grants, sponsorship and local fundraising.
Burke said the city would be looked upon to contribute $300,000 along with at least $100,000 of in-kind city services such as waived rental fees for facilities. While there is no fee charged by Special Olympics to bid, there would be an approximate cost of $7,500 to prepare bid materials.
The games, held every four years, were most recently hosted by Corner Brook, N.L. in 2016 where $5.4 million in economic impact was generated.
The hosts of the games have never suffered a financial loss, Burke said, adding 70 per cent of the net profit generated stays in the community.
As organizers learned six years ago, hosting Special Olympics makes a difference in Thunder Bay.
“From 2011, there was a real growth in Special Olympics participation,” Burke said, adding the bid committee would like to see the program expand throughout Northwestern Ontario.
Rob Neff, the regional coordinator for Special Olympics Thunder Bay, locally, there are 342 athletes as well as another 250 others who participate in the organization’s school programs.
Neff said hosting in 2011 created a “tremendous legacy” which led to “unprecedented growth.”
It’s about more than just sport, he said.
“Special Olympics conquers social isolation,” Neff said, adding accompanying events such as banquets and dances are often “highlights” for the participants.
Special Olympics Canada is not revealing the bids to host until after the deadline closes in June.
