The Province of Manitoba, Sport Manitoba, and Manitoba Hydro gathered in Dauphin to officially celebrate the City of Dauphin as hosts of the 2020 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro. As part of the celebration Sport Manitoba announced the Games will be held in August 2020. The following sports were announced:
• Athletics: U15
• Baseball: U14 [male only]
• Basketball: U16 [female & male divisions]
• Cycling: U15 female / U13 male
• Golf: U17 female / U15 male
• Sailing: U17
• Soccer: U13 female & male divisions
• Softball: U16 female only
• Swimming: U14 female / U15 male
• Volleyball: U14 female & male divisions
• Triathlon: U17
*sport information subject to change
The City of Dauphin also introduced Host Society Co-Chairs, Carla Wolfenden and Clayton Swanton. Wolfenden has extensive sport event management experience in her capacity as the National Teams Coordinator for Volleyball Canada. Her past events include various roles in World League, Olympic and World Championship Qualifiers, and the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro. Upon return to her hometown of Dauphin in 2009 Wolfenden worked in tourism and recreation, but has now taken over the family business with her husband. She is happy to follow in the footsteps of her dad, Jim Steiner, who was co-chair of the 2004 Manitoba Games in Dauphin.
“Clayton and I are honoured to carry on the legacy of the 2004 Games, and to welcome a new generation of athletes to Dauphin,” said Wolfenden. “We are excited to be a launch pad for their development as athletes and role models. Our community prides itself on being a great host, and we are confident that our host committee will ensure that the athletes, their families, officials, and fans alike will leave with great memories of our city and their games experience.”
Swanton has a history of local event management. He is highly involved with the Rotary Club where he served as president in 2011 and is a founding director of its major fundraiser, The Manitoba MudRun. Swanton is also a past Board Member of the Countryfest Community Cinema where he served during the construction of the project through its first year of operation. He was also past Vice-President of the Gilbert Plains Golf and Country Club. Swanton knows the value of empowerment through sport having completed two Ironman distance triathlons, a 150 mile and a 100 mile Ultra Marathon, and many shorter distance events.
“In addition to the athlete experience and development mentioned by Carla, we are also very excited about the infrastructure development that will be possible with the 2020 Games announcement today,” said Swanton. “Active Living is the cornerstone of any healthy community and the selection of Dauphin as the host for the 2020 games will allow us as a community to leverage significant opportunities for increasing the active living offer in the Dauphin area, both within the city limits and beyond, as we prepare our facilities to host Manitoba’s greatest young athletes.”
The Manitoba Games Council evaluated Dauphin's technical and comprehensive bid submissions along with meeting with Dauphin's bid committee and community leaders. After reviewing all materials and meeting with the Dauphin bid committee, the Manitoba Games Council had analyzed all criteria to the hosting standards and unanimously recommended that Dauphin be awarded the 2020 Games.
Sport Manitoba will work with the Dauphin bid committee over the next six months to transition their bid committee into a Host Society and recruit key volunteers for their executive and board.
Additional Quotes
“We are delighted to name Dauphin as host of the 2020 Manitoba Summer Games. This is a great opportunity for the community to get involved as hosts, volunteers and spectators as well as to showcase the beauty and hospitality of the Parkland region to visiting athletes, coaches and families. The games create a festive atmosphere that benefits the host city’s culture and economy and leaves behind local memories that last for many years.”
The Honourable Minister Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage
"The Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro help us build capacity in sport, leadership, and ability for upwards of 3,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. Among the participants in Dauphin in 2020 will be future national, international, and Olympic champions. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the people of Dauphin once again after their successful hosting of the 2004 Manitoba Games.
Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO, Sport Manitoba
“We congratulate the Town of Dauphin on their successful bid to host the 2020 Manitoba Summer Games powered by Manitoba Hydro,” Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Kelvin Shepherd said. “The success of the games depends on the hard work of volunteers. Dauphin’s track record of hosting both the popular annual Countryfest and the National Ukrainian Festival demonstrates it’s an ideal community to host the Summer games.”
Kelvin Shepard, Manitoba Hydro President & CEO
“The City of Dauphin is thrilled to host the Manitoba Summer Games in 2020! Our last chance to host the games was in 2004 and I have no doubt that our host committee will exceed expectations and give young Manitoban athletes an inspiring experience to remember."
His Worship Allen Dowhan, Mayor of Dauphin
"The RM of Dauphin is pleased to hear that the 2020 summer games are coming to Dauphin and look forward to working with the City of Dauphin to make the games a success for participants and spectators alike."
Mr. Dennis Forbes, Reeve of the RM of Dauphin
Quick Facts
The Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro are the largest ongoing multi-sport event in the Province.
The program is administered by Sport Manitoba with direction provided by the Manitoba Games Council.
The Manitoba Games is a major sport development program of Sport Manitoba that follows the Olympic cycle, taking place every two years, alternating between summer and winter events.
The City of Dauphin previously hosted the Summer Games in 2004.
Steinbach hosted the 2016 Power Smart Manitoba Summer Games: 1,500 athletes, 400 coaches and officials, 1,000 volunteers and over 5,000 spectators. The City of Steinbach benefitted from a $2.2 million economic impact as a result of hosting the Games.
Thompson will host the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, March 4 – 10, 2018.
Notable Manitoba Games alumni: Brigette Lacquette (Hockey), Stelio Mattheos (Hockey), Tyler Mislawchuk (Triathlon), Kayla Friesen (Hockey), Keyona Tomiuk (Ringette), Levi Nadlersmith (Cross Country Ski), Sam Renooy (Ringette), Sheridan Oswald (Hockey), Cody Glass (Hockey), Josh Brook (Hockey), and Nick Henry (Hockey).
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, and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Medicine Clinic, Sport Performance Centre, and Sport Resource Centre.
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