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CITY OF NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASKATCHEWAN GAMES COUNCIL AND NORTH BATTLEFORD HOST SOCIETY SIGN TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT

NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK – As the City of North Battleford gears up to host the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games, an important milestone in the planning, financing and staging of the Games was reached on May 25^th: the signing of the Tri-Party Agreement.

The Tri-Party Agreement outlines the responsibilities of the City of North Battleford, the Saskatchewan Games Council, and the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games North Battleford Host Society. As part of this agreement, the Saskatchewan Games Council has also committed to the Host Society a $420,000 operating grant and a matching legacy grant worth $250,000. The legacy grant will be used to enhance sport facilities and equipment in the community. Additionally, the Council provides over $200,000 in value-in-kind assets to support the Host Society. The Saskatchewan Winter Games are expected to draw over 5,000 spectators to the Battlefords area, which is projected to result in a $4-5 million dollar economic impact to the area.

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater remarked: “The City is very excited about hosting the province here at the Saskatchewan Games. I want to acknowledge the hard work of the volunteers, led by our Games Co-Chairs Rob Rongve and David Schell -- everyone is working in the same direction, and it’s absolutely our pleasure to have the province as our guests. We’re proud to be a partner of the Saskatchewan Games Council and the Host Society.”

"The Saskatchewan Games Council can't wait for the Games to open in February. The North Battleford region is an ideal Winter Games destination with many top-notch facilities and a community ripe with dedicated volunteers," said Mark Bracken, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Games Council.

The Saskatchewan Winter Games will be held from February 18-24, 2018 and will allow athletes from across the province to compete in 17 different sports. These include alpine skiing, badminton, biathlon, bowling and Special Olympics bowling, cross-country skiing and Para Nordic skiing, curling, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, judo, snowboarding, speed skating, synchronized swimming, table tennis, target shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling.

The Saskatchewan Games have been held since 1972, alternating biannually between Summer and Winter Games. The movement provides an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to experience an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition, including the Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, and North American Indigenous Games. The Saskatchewan Games are one of the largest amateur sporting events in Saskatchewan, involving over 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials and providing a major economic stimulus to the host community.

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