The 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster Set to Begin this Sunday
Lloydminster, SK (July 19, 2024) – In just two days’ time, the flame will be lit and the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster, presented by Teine Energy, will officially begin.
After years of planning, the Host Organizing Committee, led by Co-Chairs Wendy Plandowski and Aaron Rawlake and supported by nearly 100 dedicated volunteers, is ready to welcome the entire province to Lloydminster. From July 21st through 27th, over 2,000 participants, more than 800 local volunteers, and upwards of 5,000 visitors will gather in the Border City to experience the provincial multi-sport event and celebrate seven days of sport, culture, and community.
Sunday will see participants travelling to Lloydminster from every corner of the province, with the nine District Teams arriving at the Athletes’ Village -- with the help of dozens of volunteers, Lloydminster Comprehensive High School has been transformed into an Olympic-style village for the week of the Games -- in stages from approximately 12:00-4:00 PM. The ATCO Torch Relay will begin at 1:00 PM, leaving from Lloydminster City Hall and travelling around the city before reaching its final destination: the Centennial Civic Centre, where the flame will be lit and the Games will officially begin with the 7:00 PM Opening Ceremony, presented by Cenovus Energy. Tickets for the Opening Ceremony are available to purchase online, and both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be live streamed for free at app.hometeamlive.com.
Lloydminster’s community spirit was on full display at Thursday evening’s pre-Games Volunteer Appreciation Event, held at the Servus Sports Centre. In addition to the many Host Organizing Committee volunteers who have been working hard to plan, organize, and deliver every aspect of the Games, the event will be further supported by hundreds of local volunteers contributing in countless ways -- including assisting with food services and activities at the Athletes’ Village, providing first aid and physiotherapy support, assisting with sport competitions, and much more. With just days to go, organizers are still eagerly welcoming new volunteers who would like to lend a hand. New volunteers can register online, or reach out to the Games Office via email or phone at (306) 830-7730.
Along with competition in 14 different sports among Saskatchewan’s best young athletes Monday through Saturday, the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games will feature numerous Culture Events that are free and open to the public, with support from the Community Initiatives Fund. On Wednesday, July 24th, Saskatchewan Summer Sounds, presented by Cenovus, will take over Lakeland College Grounds. This free community BBQ will begin at 5:00 PM, with an outdoor concert running from 6:00-9:00 PM and featuring performances by Terrance Littletent, JJ Voss, The Bromantics, and more. Other free events will include Hip Hop Dance Workshops and a Guided Artwalk on July 22nd, Métis Beading Workshops and a Sports History Exhibits on July 23rd and 25th, a Saskatchewan Author Night on July 25th featuring Canadian author Marina Endicott, and Friday Fun at Weaver Heritage Park on July 26th. Additional details and registration links can be found at the saskgames.ca website.
The Games will leave behind numerous lasting legacies in Lloydminster. The Saskatchewan Games Council provides $250,000 in Sport Legacy matching grant funding in order to benefit sport clubs and venues local to the host community of each edition of the Saskatchewan Games. Jointly funded by the Saskatchewan Games Council and the City of Lloydminster and representing more than $500,000 of community investment, these projects include extensive upgrades to the VLA Soccer Fields, the purchase of portable bleachers to increase viewing capacity at numerous Lloydminster venues, the expansion of a third Beach Volleyball Court, a resurfaced high jump pad at the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, and new equipment that will benefit numerous sport venues and local clubs.
These 2024 Legacy Projects are in addition to the significant upgrades delivered as part of the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games Legacy Grant funding, which included resurfacing of the Athletics track at the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, major upgrades to the Hospital Ball Diamonds, and new equipment purchases for local Archery, Athletics, Swimming, Tennis, Triathlon, and Volleyball clubs. Though the 2020 Games were cancelled, the two events have altogether delivered over $1,000,000 in investment towards lasting community legacies.
These will be the 26th edition of the biennial Saskatchewan Games, which were first hosted in Moose Jaw in the summer of 1972. The first Winter Games took place in North Battleford in 1974. Since then, fourteen different communities across the province have played host every two years, with 2024 being the second time Lloydminster has carried the title (in addition to, as the Border City, twice hosting the Alberta Games). Lloydminster was initially set to host the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games, which were ultimately cancelled due to the pandemic. The next Saskatchewan Games will be hosted in the neighbouring communities of Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation from February 15-21, 2026. This will mark the first time in Saskatchewan Games history that a First Nation and City have partnered in hosting the Games.
Sport Schedule
The 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games will feature competition in the following 14 sports, including Special Olympics - Bocce and Beach Volleyball, which will be making their Saskatchewan Games debuts.
1st Half: July 21-24, 2024
Archery - Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds
Canoe/Kayak - Killarney Lake
Golf - Lloydminster Golf & Curling Centre
Soccer (M) - VLA Soccer Fields
Softball (F) - Legion Ball Park
Special Olympics - Bocce - Lloydminster Comprehensive High School
Swimming - Bioclean Aquatic Centre
Tennis - Bud Miller Park Tennis Courts
Volleyball - Servus Sports Centre
2nd Half: July 24-27, 2024
Athletics - Lloydminster Comprehensive High School
Baseball - Hospital Ball Diamonds
Basketball - Ecole St. Thomas (F) / Lakeland College (M)
Beach Volleyball - Bud Miller Park Beach Volleyball Courts
Soccer (F) - VLA Soccer Fields
Triathlon - Bud Miller Park / Bioclean Aquatic Centre
A map of all sport venues can be found here via Google Maps.
Follow this link to view the full Sport Schedule, which can be filtered by day and sport.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now! Full week and half-week passes are available for purchase online at this link. Tickets may be pre-purchased online, and ticket holders will be asked to show their confirmation email at admission booths to receive a wristband to wear throughout the Games.
Results & Medal Standings
Results will be updated regularly throughout each day of the Games. The list of medal winners and results by sport will be available at this link.
Photos
Photos of the Games will be available for download at this link. Thank you to our volunteer photographers for helping us to capture the many moments and memories throughout the week!
Media photo credits: If the file name includes the name of the photographer, please credit them by name. Otherwise, please provide credit to “2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games.”
Culture Events
The 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games will feature numerous Culture Events throughout the week that are free and open to the public, with support from the Community Initiatives Fund.
Monday, July 22: Hip Hop Dance Workshops - various times - Details
Monday, July 22: Guided Art Walk - 6:30 PM - Registration
Tuesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 25: Métis Beading Workshops led by local resident Mayme Boyer - 1:00 PM - Tuesday registration / Thursday registration
Tuesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 25: Sport History Exhibit at Lloydminster Museum + Archives - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM - Details
Wednesday, July 24: Saskatchewan Summer Sounds, presented by Cenovus - Details
Free community BBQ - 5:00 PM
Outdoor concert - 6:00-9:00 PM
Thursday, July 25: Saskatchewan Author Night at Lloydminster Public Library - 7:00 PM - Details
Friday, July 26: Friday Fun at Weaver Heritage Park - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Details
Take part in heritage games and activities
Make bannock on a stick outside the log cabin
Tour Rendell House, the first timber-framed residence in Lloydminster