NANAIMO — Thousands of athletes from across the province have descended on the Harbour City for the annual 55+ BC Games.
No corner of the city will go without some form of competition between Wednesday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 13, as athletes will take part in 21 different spots across a variety of venues spanning from McGirr Sports Fields hosting Slo-Pitch, to Beban Park, Bowen Park, the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and more.
Games president Diana Johnstone told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s a massive infusion of people.
“We were hoping for at least 2,500 participants, and we’re up over 2,700, plus we have a lot of supporters and officials, so our actual team of people in the sport area is around 3,000.”
Some events are being hosted outside of Nanaimo due to either technical limitations or a lack of facilities.
Curling is being held at the Parksville Curling Club, some of the golf events will be at Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay, while the five-pin bowling will be held in Duncan.
As a result of the games, programming at a handful of City-run facilities will be postponed or cancelled.
Ice times at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, Frank Crane and Cliff McNabb Arenas will be adjusted to accommodate game participants.
Swimming at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, recreational programming at Oliver Woods and access to the Bowen Park Disc Golf Course, Bowen and Beban Park tennis courts and the Beban Park pickleball courts are also affected.
The torch for the 55+ BC Games was lit at the Commercial St. Night Market earlier this summer. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)Any inconvenience over the coming days is well worth it for the local economy.
Johnstone estimates between $3.5 and $5 million will be generated by visitors over the coming days.
“They’re going to be staying in our hotels and in our campgrounds and eating in our restaurants and hopefully shopping and just spending their tourism dollars because they’re here. A lot of people will come for the games, but hopefully they’ll stay a few days longer and venture out to the mid-Island.”
Over 1,000 volunteers will help make the games run.
An opening ceremony is planned for Serauxmen Stadium on Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Nanaimo will officially pass the flag onto the next hosts, Kamloops, at an event on Friday, Sept. 12, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
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