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The sa国际传媒 Games, the entry-level multi-sport launching pad for many Olympians, had its upcoming 40th anniversary in 2018 recognized by Lt.- Gov. Judith Guichon on Tuesday night during a ceremony at Government House.
Numerous Olympians from the Island, including Michael Saunders, Hilary Caldwell, Richard Weinberger, Ryder Hesjedal and Fred Winters, got their first taste of a multi-sport experience at the sa国际传媒 Games.
That held them in good stead through a system that includes the Western sa国际传媒 Games and sa国际传媒 Games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the start of the pathway from sa国际传媒 to the Olympics,鈥� said Kelly Mann of Victoria, who has been with the sa国际传媒 Games for 25 years, the last 17 years as president and CEO.
Other recent Island Olympians or Paralympians to get their multi-sport start in the sa国际传媒 Games include Mike Mason, Geoff Kabush, Riley McCormick, Michelle Stilwell, Rick Say, Gary Reed, Clare Rustad, Martin Reader, Brent McMahon, Cam Levins, Gillian Carleton, Erinne Willock, Kirsten Sweetland, and Jamie Broder.
sa国际传媒 Games alumni 鈥擮lympians Brent Hayden of Mission and Evan Dunfee of Richmond and national-team volleyball player Shanice Marcelle of Victoria 鈥� were selected to represent past sa国际传媒 Games athletes at the Government House 40th anniversary event, which also recognized Games supporters and contributors from the past four decades.
鈥淚t was my first ever non-school trip and sleeping away from home, and being with other athletes, and I remember it being hugely important for me at that time in my development,鈥� said racewalker Dunfee, who went on to finish fourth at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
The 2018 sa国际传媒 Winter and Summer Games are in Kamloops and the Cowichan Valley, respectively.
