The B.C. government is providing $1 million in initial funding to kick-start preparations for the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong announced today.

The Prince George Games will be the largest sporting event ever held in northern British Columbia, involving about 3,300 athletes, coaches and managers and many thousands of visitors from across Canada. In comparison, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games involved approximately 2,600 athletes.

This provincial funding will allow Prince George's 2015 Host Society to move preparations for this major event into high gear while final funding arrangements with the provincial and federal governments are completed.

The Prince George Games will be the first Canada Games held in British Columbia in more than two decades. The most recent were the Kamloops 1993 Summer Games. This will also be the first time British Columbia has ever hosted a Canada Winter Games.

The Canada Summer and Winter Games are among the world's biggest multi-sport events, with athletes, coaches and family members from 13 provinces and territories coming together for a 17-day celebration of athletic achievement and healthy living. Between 4,000 and 6,000 volunteers will be recruited to make these Games a success.

Quick Facts:

• The Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter.
• The 2015 Canada Winter Games will include 20 sports.
• The Games are a key event in the development of Canada's young athletes, a catalyst for the growth of sport and recreation across Canada and they leave a lasting legacy in the communities hosting them.
• The Games have acted as a stepping stone for many of Canada's celebrated athletes, including Kristi Richards (mogul skiing) and Rebecca Marino (tennis) from B.C.
• Most of Canada's medal winners at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games were past Canada Games participants.

Learn More:

Canada Games: http://www.canadagames.ca

Prince George's 2015 Canada Winter Games: http://city2.princegeorge.ca/2015wintergames

Prince George 2015 Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pg2015

The B.C. government's Sport Branch: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/sport/

Contact:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677