Dauphin gears up for Manitoba Summer Games
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/05/2024 (533 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Manitoba Summer Games are 82 days away. It may seem like a lot but in Games time, it’s not.
As co-chair Carla Wolfenden and the host society prepare to host the province’s top U14 to U18 athletes in 12 sports from Aug. 11 to 17, their most urgent need is for volunteers to step up.
“It’s not keeping us up at night yet but it’s the only thing on our radar we’re like ‘We really need to keep at it and on top of it,’” Wolfenden said.
“People tend to wait until the last minute. We have lots of people saying, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll volunteer’ but we actually need people to physically register in the system because there are things like criminal [record] and Child Abuse Registry Checks that need to happen and those take time.
“We are short. It seems early but it’s not. We really need volunteers.”
The Summer Games require an estimated 1,500 volunteers, fewer if people can commit to more than three days and more if most can only spare one or two.
A few specific areas of need include medical — since it requires specialization in nursing, medicine or athletic therapy — parking attendants and venue hosts, and access control at the athletes’ village, which requires an up-to-date Child Abuse Registry Check.
Those interested in volunteering can visit sportmanitoba.ca/manitoba-games to find the registration form or email manitobagames2024@gmail.com for more information.
When it comes to the core volunteers in leadership positions, Wolfenden and co-chair Clayton Swanton are happy with the team in place. Some understandably stepped aside after the 2020 Games were cancelled due to COVID-19. Others stuck around when Dauphin was awarded the 2024 edition.
Wolfenden and Clayton prioritized people they knew could do the job well and would be enjoyable to work with. Then, they stepped back and let them plan for their sports while the chairs focused on capital expenditures.
Like when Dauphin hosted the Summer Games in 2004 and developed the track at its high school and a rugby pitch while updating soccer fields and ball diamonds, the 2024 Summer Games are leaving major legacy pieces.
The big one is the 26-kilometre Northgate Trails, serving as the mountain bike course for the Games and already open to the public.
The Sport Courts for volleyball were already used during AAA provincials last fall when the Dauphin Clippers hosted the top boys and girls teams at the Dauphin Kings’ home Credit Union Place.
And in a terrific example of good things coming to those who wait, the track, which would have been re-asphalted in 2020, is being rubberized. An outdoor basketball court is in the works as well, with the Summer Games using the space for the high jump.
Team selection for some sports is underway. Dates vary, so search provincial sport organization websites for more details.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
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