2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro Create Major Economic Impact in Thompson

Thompson, Manitoba played host to the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro earlier this year, and today Sport Manitoba released the economic impact assessment report. The key findings indicate the total net economic activity by the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro was:

• $1.7 million for Canada as a whole

• $1.3 million for the province of Manitoba; including

• $1.1 million for Thompson

“We are incredibly pleased with the overall success of the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro,” said Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO of Sport Manitoba. “As a direct result of hosting these Games in Thompson, we’ve already been involved in the development of new sport programs, with specific interest in speed skating and wrestling in the community. We want to congratulate the organizers, volunteers, and participants who made this one of our best-ever Manitoba Winter Games.”

The economic impact data was compiled by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance and indicated:

• The spending of out–of-town athletes, family members, spectators and other visitors to the Manitoba Games, in combination with the expenditures made by event organizers, totaled $859,000 in direct spending.

• These expenditures supported $506,000 in wages and salaries across Canada. Of the 9 jobs Canada-wide, 6 jobs, and the majority of the household income ($326,000) stayed in the Thompson area.

• The majority of spectators at the 2018 Games were from outside the local area 

More than 1,450 participants took part in 13 sports – including short track speed skating which made its first-ever appearance in the Manitoba Games. This included 1,210 athletes, 244 coaches, managers, and officials, along with nearly 2,500 family supporters. A Winter Games record of 13,000+ spectators took in the action over the course of the event.

“The boosts to local business, and the many investments from Sport Manitoba, were a huge benefit to Thompson,” said Mayor Colleen Smook. “What the numbers don’t show, however, might be the most important part of the Games for us: the amazing opportunity to showcase the spirit of Thompson at its best, and the reminder of what it means for us to come together as a community, and accomplish something great.”

Sport Manitoba is a not for profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located in the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in our province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Coaching Manitoba, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids, and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Medicine Clinic, Performance Centre, Fitness Centre, and Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.