The Games – as in the B.C. Summer Games – have begun near Langley.
The province’s young athletes are in Abbotsford and Langley today through Sunday (July 21-24) to compete for gold.
The 2,786 athletes, 535 coaches, and 372 officials involved are coming from every corner of the province and have trained to earn a place to represent their zone at the games.
While the games are being held primarily in Abbotsford, Langley Township is also hosting water-related competitions.
On Friday and Saturday (July 22 and 23) the Fort Langley Canoe Club hosts U16 male and female canoe/kayak along the Bedford Channel.
As well, U17 male and female rowing also takes place on the channel, with the Fort Langley Rowing Paddling Centre serving as headquarters.
Meanwhile, synchronized swimming for 11- to 15-year-olds is being held at the Walnut Grove Community Centre.
Fort Langley has six paddlers competing: Sam Hao, Elissa Elmadani, Ryan Hayes, Natasha Spring, Devon Holcroft, and Kirsten Cheung.
Kelley Fripps Cheung, BC Games Sport Chair – Canoe Kayak, said there’s been “a fantastic energy from both the athletes and the volunteers, as we prepare for these games.”
“Canoe/kayak is growing quickly in our province, so the calibre of competition for these athletes will be exciting,” Fripps Cheung predicted last week. “It’s also a great first taste of a multi-sport games which will hopefully encourage them to work towards participation in national and international competition.”
Competing in 18 different sports, the athletes are an average of 14 years old and for most, this will be their first experience at a multi-sport Games.