‘Calgary stepped up’: Champions Celebration puts exclamation point on successful Special Olympics Canada Winter Games

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The energy was palpable in the atrium of Calgary’s municipal building on Saturday, where more than 800 Special Olympics athletes from across the country were honoured during the Champions Celebration.

The event, which included medal ceremonies, music, a pancake breakfast and assortment of entertainers, was part of the wrap-up festivities for the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, which kicked off in Calgary on Tuesday.

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Originally slated to be held at Olympic Plaza, steady snowfall and subzero conditions pushed Saturday’s Celebration of Champions indoors.

But the last-minute venue change only contributed to the event’s raucous atmosphere.

“It just hits you,” said Games Organizing Committee co-chair Cheryl Bernard, of the noise that erupted every time a medallist was announced.

“Calgary stepped up. They’re in this room, cheering on the athletes who have worked so incredibly hard to get here for this week. They’ve been working all year, so it just makes me proud of this city for what we do to prepare for these kinds of events.”

While the games came and went quickly, planning and putting on a successful event was an 18-month affair for volunteers, after Calgary was announced as the host city in June 2022.

“Everyone is exhausted, but we’re so thrilled,” said Bernard, a former Olympic silver-medallist curler for Team Canada. “We had a mission when we started these games that we would put on the best games for these athletes.

“I would say we all accomplished that. We made a difference for all of them and they made a difference to us, which is probably the most amazing piece of it.”

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The games will officially conclude later this evening with a private closing ceremony at the Big Four Roadhouse. The ceremony will include the highly popular athletes’ dance, which Bernard noted will have a theme of “Cowboy Glitz and Glam.”

‘I hope to come back again soon’

Over the course of the games, the athletes competed across eight different sports, including five-pin bowling, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, speedskating, floor hockey and snowshoeing.

Local venues that hosted the games included the Bowling Depot, Confederation Park, North Hill Curling Club, Seven Chiefs Sportsplex, Maple Ridge Golf Course and the Olympic Oval.

More than 800 athletes participated and the games featured more than 1,500 volunteers. Including athletes, volunteers, family, friends and chefs de mission, the games welcomed more than 4,000 visitors to Calgary from every corner of Canada.

One of the athletes competing was Hannah Johnson, a 28-year-old athlete from Enfield, N.S. She earned three medals in the individual and team bowling competitions, including two bronze and a silver.

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While she loved the competitive aspect, Johnson — who was competing at her first national games — said her favourite part of the week was exploring the city and interacting with the other athletes.

“It was fun and I hope to come back again soon,” she said, adding this marked her first time visiting Calgary.

Johnson’s assistant coach, Jackie Davis, applauded the performances and dedication demonstrated by Nova Scotia’s bowling athletes throughout the week, noting the five-member team worked together to bring home four medals.

“Our bowlers are candle pin bowlers, so we don’t bowl five-pin,” she said. “We had to adapt to five-pin and travel almost two hours to practise for five-pin. They came home with the hardware, so that shows their dedication.”

Davis added Nova Scotia’s athletes were looking forward to an excursion to Banff and Lake Louise on Sunday to officially cap off their Alberta experience.

‘A triumph for every athlete’

Among the VIPs presenting medals on Saturday was Premier Danielle Smith, who called the event an inspired celebration of friendly sport and competition.

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“You are the reason why we’re all here, and this moment belongs to you, most of all,” she said, addressing the athletes.

The 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games generated more than $10 million in economic impact, which Smith said will benefit Calgary’s economy during what is usually a slow time of year for tourism.

“I can’t think of a better city in Canada to host this fabulous event, because the 1988 Winter Olympics are widely regarded as one of the most successful Olympic Games in history,” she said. “And talking to the organizers, it sounds like this one is going to go down as the most successful Special Olympics Canada Winter Games as well.

“Just like the 1988 Games, this event has been a triumph for every athlete and a victory for Calgary and Alberta.”

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