GO TEAM GO! GREATER VERNON TO HOST THE 2012
By Maureen McEwan O
n February 23, 2012, Greater Vernon will welcome more than
1,000 athletes, 300 coaches and 200 officials as they arrive to take part in the Greater Vernon 2012 BCWinter Games.
For many of these young athletes, this will be their first opportunity to compete in a sporting event of this size, and that’s exciting for everyone involved.
The BC Winter Games take place every two years in various locations throughout the province. In 2012, the athletes, who range from nine to 17 years of age, will be competing in 18 events in 16 sports, such as archery, biathlon, badminton, curling, cross country, alpine and freestyle skiing, figure skating, gymnastics, ice hockey, judo, karate, netball, ringette and speed skating, and will showcase the best athletes in their age groups. Athletes
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with disabilities will also participate, and will compete in cross country and alpine skiing. The 2,200 volunteers who have come together for this event are taking their roles seriously. Those who have been involved since day one began planning for the Games more than two years ago. Welcoming 2,000 people to the city and providing them with accommodation, meals, a quality sporting venue and memories of a lifetime, takes a great deal of time and effort. But the Games volunteers are a committed bunch, and their enthusiasm has spilled over to the residents and local athletes who are now counting the days to the opening ceremony.
Speed skater Connie Kapak, a 12-year- old Vernon resident, is one of the local athletes excited about the upcoming Games, and with good reason. Now in her tenth year of speed skating, she is a six-time provincial champion (four times in short track, two times in long), holds four BC records, placed
second in Western Canada in 2011 and also in Nottingham, England in 2009, and will represent BC at the Canadian Championships in Winnipeg in March 2012. Her father, Pete Kapak, says she’s actually going in to the Games with a disadvantage (she’s in the younger age of her two-year age grouping) but she’s still hoping to win a medal. He’s her biggest fan, but being her dad, he’s still practical. “The realistic expectation is a medal,” says Kapak, “however, in short track, with a fraction of a second being the difference, she will be competitive.”
Fans like Pete Kapak play an important role in sporting events, but when it comes to these Games, there’s no bigger cheerleader than Greater Vernon 2012 BC Winter Games’ president, Akbal Mund. Right behind him is vice president Jim McEwan, as well as 14 directors and 125 chairs.“The volunteer component of the Games is remarkable,” says Mund. “There are so many dedicated people who are truly focused on making this the
Kevin Bogetti Smith and the BC Games Society
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