Prince George to host 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games

In seven months, Prince George will host the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games.

The organizing committee was unveiled at an event at Canadian Tire’s Prince George location this morning. (Tuesday)

Lyn Hall and Renee McCloskey will be the Co-Chairs of the event.

McCloskey was also the Host Society President for the 2022 BC Summer Games held in Prince George.

“It is such a great opportunity to welcome these incredible athletes to Prince George,” McCloskey said.

“We heard some really inspiring words today from an athlete that’s been involved with the games about what exactly this means to people with intellectual disabilities. I think it brings joy, not just to the athletes but I think to the community and everybody involved and watching.”

Adam Spokes, one of the Prince George athletes, said being able to host the games brings a lot of pride.

“One of our biggest problems is you practice, and you practice, and you practice, but you don’t get any end result,” Spokes said.

“This time we get to show that all that hard work was worth it, that all our work, we earned it, and we earned it in front of a big stage, we’re not just participators, we’re possibly champions, and why not encourage Prince George? If we can use this as outreach, either for volunteers or coaches or fundraising, and especially athletes, like me, if I hadn’t been encouraged or suggested that I should try, I never would have thought about it before, and I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there with disabilities, who never even considered Special O, but now as they’re watching us, doing floor hockey, we’re doing this, we’re doing that, they’re thinking that could be a possibility for me.”

More than 1,200 competitors with intellectual disabilities from across the province will converge on Prince George for the competition, which takes place July 10th to 12th.

McCloskey added the event will need plenty of volunteers.

“Organizing an event like this is everything from accommodations, food services, security, helping out at the sport venues, helping out with our ceremonies, there’s a dance for the athletes on one of the evenings,” McCloskey explained.

“There’s all kinds of different opportunities for volunteers to get involved, whether it’s you have four hours, four days, four months.”

McCloskey added the organizing committee will have more information on volunteer opportunities in the coming months, but they can also get in touch with the Special Olympics office to get involved.