The 2012 Power Smart Manitoba Games could be held in Steinbach if a local committee is successful in gaining community support.
A bid committee has been formed with hopes of gaining community support to bring the province’s largest multi-sport event to the community. If successful, the 7 day event could generate a substantial amount of revenue for the host community.
According to bid committee Chairperson Trish Enns, the games could generate about $1 million for the local economy.
In addition, the community that hosts the event will benefit from an excess of $150K in upgrades to their sports facilities plus a share in any surplus of funds upon completion of the games. Previous financial legacies have ranged from $10K to $100K.
Council responded favorably to the proposal; however, they are not prepared to make a hasty decision. The city intends to see how much work is actually needed to upgrade the required facilities to ensure that the event would be affordable. They expect to have a decision within a few weeks.
The Power Smart Manitoba Games are the province’s largest ongoing multi-sport program bringing together participants from across the province. The games are held every two years and alternate between summer and winter sports events. The next event is the winter games, to take place in Portage La Prairie in March 2010.
Communities across the province bid to host the games based on their ability to stage the sport competitions, provide accommodations for 1,800 participants and 1,200 volunteers, and generate the required financial resources to operate the games. Each set of games involve upwards of 10,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers.
Sport Manitoba and the Manitoba Games Council conduct bid and site evaluations, and make recommendations to the Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.
A decision is expected to be announced in August.
Participation in the Power Smart Manitoba Games begins with regional qualifying events. Regional teams of approximately 200 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff go on to participate in the provincial finals.
