The 2014 Alberta Summer Games Selection Committee visited Airdrie April 18, and was greeted by hundreds of residents, students and potential athletes.
The group toured around the city starting off at Chinook Winds Baseball Park, and visited the Airdrie Town and Country Centre, Edwards Elementary School, George McDougall High School and Bert Church High School before wrapping up at Genesis Place.
As the group toured the city in the bus, a number of students lined the streets and gave the committee a good idea of the level of support from the community.
“It was very good, we are extremely thankful to the seven participating schools. They did a fabulous job,” said Airdrie Bid Committee Vice Chair Linda Bruce.
“The selection committee was very impressed.”
Bruce said that bringing the youth of the community out to support Airdrie’s bid is important because of the age group the games will feature.
“The athletes will be between 11 and 17, so it’s important to have those kids involved, because any one of those kids at any of those schools could represent us at those games,” said Bruce.
When the tour ended at Genesis Place, the Airdrie Ace’s Running Club ran a lap of the outdoor track, showing off the facilities Airdrie has to offer.
“They had some great questions about how we would hold events, but they had no qualms about the quality of our facilities,” said Bruce.
Bruce said the experience gained during a previous unsuccessful bid for the 2015 Canada Western Summer Games, helped the committee this time around.
“We didn’t really focus on getting the community out and involved. There was a video that was made by the bid committee (of the successful community) that showed tons of people out at every facility,” said Bruce.
“We knew that the community supported the (2015) games, but we failed to show it. It is one thing to say our community is behind us, but it’s another thing for them to see it.”
There is no date for when the 2014 Alberta Summer Games Selection Committee will make its suggestion to the Alberta Sports, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife minister, but Bruce said she hopes to hear back by early May.
