(Alberta Games on Facebook)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

2021 Alberta Summer Games cancelled

Jan 29, 2021 | 11:06 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – After being forced to postpone last summer, the Alberta Summer Games have been cancelled.

The event was originally scheduled for July 2020 in Lethbridge but was put on hold due to COVID-19. The plan was to hold the games this coming summer, however, that will not be the case.

“After consultation with health officials, the City of Lethbridge and the Alberta Government, the Games Society made the decision to cancel the Games based on the health and safety of the participants, spectators, volunteers and residents of the City of Lethbridge,” read a statement from the Games Society.

“The ability to stage a safe, responsible and meaningful event was not possible.”

President of the Lethbridge Summer Games Society, Rick Blakeley, said the pandemic continues on with so much uncertainty and the decision to cancel the event was “exceedingly difficult”.

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“I commend our Board for their resilience and the desire to continue when we announced the postponement last March,” he said.

“We were preparing a modified Games for this summer but our vision for a memorable event has been met with many roadblocks and concerns.”

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman praised organizers for putting health and safety as the top priority in making the difficult decision.

“Maintaining the health of the athletes, volunteers and the communities participating is paramount. We look forward to hosting the Alberta Summer Games again at some point in the future,” Spearman remarked.

More on the Alberta Summer Games can be found here.