The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, presented the first installment of the provincial contribution of $25,000 to the provincial planning committee of the 2001 Provincial Winter Games in Mill River today. The Games will be held February 2, 3 and 4, 2001 and will be jointly hosted by the communities of Tignish, Alberton and O'Leary.
"The Provincial Winter Games is an opportunity for Island athletes to experience the competitive spirit of sport, and to stimulate enthusiasm for amateur sport and develop a sense of provincial pride," says Minister Shea. "I am pleased to see the interest in hosting the Games expressed by communities in West Prince and I am sure that the planning committee will make the 2001 Games a success."
The Games traditionally provide a method for the identification of potential Canada Games athletes through a cross-sectional showcase of Island athletes in multi-sport competition.
To date the following sports have made a commitment to participate in the 2001 Provincial Winter Games: artistic gymnastics, judo, ringette, speed skating, synchronized swimming, badminton, curling, figure skating, hockey, squash and table tennis.
"The games will offer economic spinoffs to West Prince through increased traffic to the area by athletes, coaches and spectators," says Minister Shea. "West Prince has a history of hosting successful sporting events including, the Philadelphia Flyers Training Camp, National Boxing Championships and the National Midget Championships and I am happy to see several communities come together to host another successful sporting event for PEI."
The title sponsor to the 2001 Provincial Winter Games is PEI Mutual.
"As a Prince Edward Island insurance company, I believe that our thousands of members over the span of 115 years, would be proud that we are the title sponsor for the PEI Provincial Games," says Malcolm MacFarlane from PEI Mutual. "What better way for an old insurance company to invest some of its money than by helping enable hundreds of Island youth participate in a near olympic experience."