Manitoba Bracing for Games

The PowerSmart Manitoba Games take place March 2-8 in Manitoba.

Sport is the reason for staging the Power Smart Manitoba Games. The games are a competitive and developmental opportunity for selected sports to advance Provincial Sport Organization’s long term athlete and coach development plans. The age or stage selected generally fits in the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Train to Train stage of development. See more about LTAD at www.canadiansportforlife.ca.

The Manitoba Games are often the first multi-sport Games experience for athletes. The Games help to identify Manitoba athletes with the potential to advance to higher levels of competition like Provincial Team, National Competitions, Canada and Western Canada Games. After the Manitoba Games, many move on to become part of Team Manitoba at future games.

The sports on the calendar for the 2014 Morden-Stanley-Winkler Games include:

Phase 1 - March 2-5, 2014
Cross Country Ski
Curling -male and female
Gymnastics
Hockey Male
Ringette

Phase 2 - March 5-8, 2014
Badminton
Curling Mixed
Curling Special Olympics
Figure Skating
Hockey Female
Wrestling
Table Tennis

The Power Smart Manitoba Games follow the Olympic cycle, taking place every two years, alternating between summer and winter events. The program is administered by Sport Manitoba and implemented by the Manitoba Games Council.

Sport Manitoba, Manitoba's corporate community, participant registration fees and local fundraising efforts fund the program. 1,200 volunteers are trained to operate a multi-sport event. The provincial host community benefits from in excess of $150,000 in sport facility capital upgrades.

There is an opportunity for a monetary surplus at the completion of the Games. Previous financial legacies have ranged from $10,000 to $100,000. 1,800 participants and a large number of family members contribute to an economic impact of over one million dollars on the host community.

The goals of the programs are as follows:

• To provide Manitobans with an opportunity to participate in a common, province-wide, organized, athletic event.
• To provide opportunities for Manitobans to compete within the spirit of fair play, for the joy of effort and for the sense of physical and social well being.
• To provide all participants with the opportunity to develop their skill level and interest in sport.
• To provide opportunities to identify Manitobans wishing to pursue higher levels of competition.

 The objectives are as follows:

• To strengthen provincial unity through the Games.
• To foster participation and development at the regional and provincial levels.
• To foster and promote the growth of, and partnership between, local, regional and provincial sport organizations, leagues and programs.
• To provide an opportunity for the development of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers.
• To provide each hosting community with a legacy of upgraded equipment, facilities, officials and volunteers.
• To focus on athletes between the ages of ten and under 18 (10-under 18).

Information and registration options are found at the website.