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The Alberta Summer Games are coming back to Lethbridge. The host city for the 2020 Alberta Summer Games was announced Thursday afternoon at the University of Lethbridge by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Lethbridge MLAs Shannon Phillips and Maria Fitzpatrick, several youth sporting organizations, and representative from the Lethbridge Sport Council and Lethbridge City Council.
Lethbridge last hosted the ASG in 2012.
“It’s good to be here in Lethbridge and in this particular venue,” said Notley. “It’s very exciting. Lethbridge has a long and proud tradition of supporting and hosting local, provincial, national and international sporting events. It gives me great pride to announce that Lethbridge has been chosen to host the 2020 Alberta Summer Games.”
The government will provide $420,000 to support the Games through Alberta Sport Connection, which includes a cultural grant of $70,000. The City of Lethbridge will provide $250,000 for the Games — which will also generate about $3 million for the host community, said Acting Mayor Mark Campbell.
“We have the money in our capacity to give money out to events like this,” Campbell said. “Lethbridge does it so well; the volunteer base is here. I couldn’t be happier we got these Games. It’s people coming from all over the province coming to our city, experiencing what we have, eating at our restaurants, staying in our hotels — it’s just a wonderful opportunity.”
The Games provide an opportunity for Albertans 11 to 17 years old to compete in a province-wide summer sports competition. More than 3,000 participants, their families and spectators are expected to attend the Games.
Athletes will participate in a wide variety of sports including athletics, cycling, baseball, swimming, triathlon, rugby, basketball, soccer, canoe/kayak and beach volleyball.
“It’s a wonderful announcement today to get the Alberta Summer Games,” said Susan Eymann, executive director with the Lethbridge Sport Council. “Multi-sport games are so much fun for athletes, coaches and everyone involved. Our role as a sport council really will be to work with the sport organizations in Lethbridge in whatever way we can help develop them.”
“Congratulations to the City of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Sport Council on their successful bid to host the 2020 Alberta Summer Games,” Notley said. “Through Budget 2018 we are investing in the next generation of Albertans and helping communities build a strong foundation for the future. The Alberta Summer Games are an important part of that foundation and make life better for Albertans.”
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