The Delta Sports Council hosted a send off Tuesday night for the 11 Delta athletes and staff that will be representing B.C. at the Canada Western Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta.
The Delta contingent of athletes on Team B.C. include: Sophie Anderson (artistic gymnastics), Brittany Costa (soccer), Harbans Gill (wrestling), Aidan McDonough (swimming), Michael Milic (triathlon), Qingzi Ouyang (badminton), Olivia Priestlay (softball), Ella Rogers (artistic gymnastics), Ryan Woodhead (artistic gymnastics), Taylor Woodward (softball) and Wei Zou (swimming). Also heading to the Games as coaches, managers or mission staff are Shannon Butler, Joseph Enevoldson (basketball), Zachary Lund (indoor volleyball) and Krista Sharp (artistic gymnastics).
The 2015 Western Canada Games continues the western Canadian tradition as a multi-sport event to provide development opportunities for amateur athletes and to help them advance their skills in a competitive but friendly environment. The 10-day event (Aug. 7-16) will feature over 2500 athletes from Canada's four western provinces and three northern territories, competing in 18 different sports.
It was 10 years ago, for the 2005 Western Canada Summer Games, that the Delta Sport Council (originally the Delta Spirit of BC) began the tradition of honouring local athletes attending multi-sport games.
Councillor Sylvia Bishop congratulated the athletes and gave them her best wishes on behalf of Mayor Jackson and council. MLAs Vicki Huntington and Scott Hamilton also had representatives in attendance.
Olympic rower and longtime Delta Sports Council executive Joy Fera offered word of encouragement to the athletes, urging them to live their dreams.
The council also acknowledged the coaches, parents and families who have helped to make sport available to the Team BC athletes who will proudly be representing Delta.
