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Lloydminster Named as Host of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games
Oct 28, 2021

Lloydminster Named as Host of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games

LLOYDMINSTER, SK (October 28, 2021): It was officially announced today by Saskatchewan Games Council Chairperson Amber Holland that the City of Lloydminster will host the upcoming 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games.

Lloydminster was originally scheduled to host the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games in July of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Games were initially postponed to the summer of 2021 before they were eventually cancelled over health and safety concerns. As a result, the city was provided first right of refusal to host the Games in 2024.

Co-chairing the 2024 Games are community leaders Wendy Plandowski and Aaron Rawlake. In 2008, Plandowski served as the 2008 Saskatchewan Summer Games board chair after leaving an indelible mark at the Alberta Summer Games in 1997. For the past five years, Rawlake has made an impact as coach of the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons’ track and field team and is on his third season as an assistant coach for the Lakeland Rustlers men’s volleyball team. His current and past chair experience include the Alberta Elite Hockey League and the Rustlers’ women’s national volleyball championship.

As the host of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games, the community of Lloydminster can expect to gain a legacy of upgraded facilities, new sporting equipment, experienced officials, and a core group of volunteers. Additionally, each host community sees a significant economic and tourism benefit with over 5,000 visitors from across the province expected to attend during the week-long event.

As a major partner in the event, the Saskatchewan Games Council will provide $250,000 in matching grant funding to Lloydminster that will go towards capital projects and equipment as well as a $420,000 operating grant.

This will be the second time Lloydminster has hosted the Saskatchewan Games, following its first appointment in 2008. The success of the 2008 Lloydminster Games was recognized by Tourism Saskatchewan, who granted Lloydminster an award for excellence for its promotional/marketing campaign. Known as “The Border City,” Lloydminster has also twice played host to the Alberta Games: the Winter Games in 1982, and the Summer Games in 1997.

The Games, tentatively scheduled for August 2024, will involve over 2,000 athletes, coaches and managers who will represent the nine sport, culture and recreation Districts across the province. Lloydminster will require up to 1,100 volunteers to host the weeklong event. All sports that were included on the sport calendar for the 2020/21 Saskatchewan Summer Games have been invited to take part in the 2024 Games. These include archery, athletics, baseball, basketball, canoe kayak, golf, rugby 7s (female), soccer, softball (female), tennis, triathlon, swimming, Special Olympics swimming, volleyball, and wheelchair basketball. A finalized list of participating sports will be available in late 2021.

About the Saskatchewan Games:

First established in 1972, the Saskatchewan Games are one of the largest amateur sporting events in the province, seeing participation from nearly 2,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from every corner of the province. The biennial Games, which alternate between summer and winter, provide an opportunity for Saskatchewan’s developing athletes, coaches, and officials to experience an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for higher levels of competition, including the Canada Games, North American Indigenous Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Saskatchewan Games also leave behind valuable legacies that benefit each host community for years to come. To learn more, visit www.saskgames.ca.

Quotes:

“The City of Lloydminster is honoured to be selected as host for the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games. We look forward to building on the volunteer hours spent preparing for the 2020 Games that were postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic. We also look to commemorate the business community for stepping up to help us build legacy projects for athletes and the community to enjoy for years to come. On behalf of the Lloydminster community, we can’t wait to welcome Saskatchewan’s top young athletes in 2024.” His Worship Gerald S. Aalbers, Mayor, City of Lloydminster

“The Lloydminster community is known for its dedication and determination, and it’s filled with excitement to have the opportunity to host the Saskatchewan Summer Games in 2024. On behalf of the 2024 Host Society and our board of directors, we want to thank everyone who was involved in preparing for 2020. We look forward to picking up the momentum and helping Lloydminster welcome Saskatchewan’s athletes, coaches and their families into our community in 2024.” – Aaron Rawlake, Co-Chair, 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games Host Society

“The Saskatchewan Games Council views Lloydminster as an ideal community to host the Saskatchewan Summer Games. With the city’s first-class venues and amenities, the enthusiasm of the community, its volunteer spirit, and its experience with successfully hosting numerous high-level sporting events, we are confident that Lloydminster will create an excellent and memorable multi-sport games experience for all involved. We are so grateful to the members of the 2020-21 Saskatchewan Summer Games Host Organizing Committee for all the time, passion, and dedication they put into planning those Games despite the challenges faced, and for laying the groundwork to make the 2024 Games a huge success.” – Amber Holland, Chair, Saskatchewan Games Council

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For more information, please contact:

Ashley Dennison
Games Services & Communications Lead
Saskatchewan Games Council
Email: adennison@saskgames.ca
Mobile: (306) 570-2525

Eric Healey
Communications Coordinator
City of Lloydminster
Email: ehealey@lloydminster.ca
Mobile: (306) 307-8483

Aaron Rawlake
Co-Chair
2024 Host Games Society
Email: arawlake@gmail.com
Mobile: (780) 872-4333