Athlete Christine Sullivan speaks about how excited she is for the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games to be coming to her hometown of Medicine Hat Aug. 11-15, 2026. Courtesy/Canada Summer Games

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

One year away from Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat

Aug 11, 2025 | 9:28 AM

The 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games is officially one year away from taking place in Medicine Hat.

It’s set to be the biggest sporting event the city has ever hosted with more than 1,700 participants expected, at least 1,200 volunteers, plus friends and family.

Medicine Hat athletes Christine Sullivan said she is excited.

“I’m very happy,” said Sullivan, a veteran of numerous national and international Special Olympics competitions in powerlifting, swimming, and bowling.

“I’m really proud we’re having it. It’s going to be really good.”

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It’s been a long time coming for these games, originally scheduled for 2022 before COVID forced their cancellation.

The games run Aug. 11-15, 2026, but games organizing committee chairman Brian Varga said he remembers starting the bidding process way back in 2017.

“We’ve been working on it for a lot of years, so we’re happy to take it on,” said Varga.

“And, we’re going to try and make it the best that it can be,” he added.

“We’re going to be up for the challenge.”

The committee includes a handful of staff and dozens of volunteers already, and that number is set to skyrocket, according to a press release from the group.

Everything from food services, to running 10 sports, to sharing it all on social media will need support from when athletes arrive Aug. 9 to their departure Aug. 16.

The push will also continue for sponsors and donations for such a huge multi-sport event with a budget nearing $4 million.

Information for those opportunities is available on the 2026 Games’ website, www.socmedhat2026.ca.

“We hope that as many people come out as possible to help us, make this the best event ever for Medicine Hat,” said Varga.

“The biggest thing for the volunteers is that they come and have fun with the athletes over the six-day period.”

The organization said it’s hard not to have fun with Special Olympics athletes, who are the embodiment of living life to the fullest.

Varga said until you experience the athletes that come to the games, how hard they compete and how happy they are, it’s like none other.

“It’s a great experience for all the volunteers and for everybody involved because you see how hard they work. They’re special,” Varga said.

Sullivan recently competed at the Alberta provincial championships in Grande Prairie and won three medals.

While she won’t know for another month whether she qualifies as an athlete, there is an athlete ambassador program for those not competing, and at the very least Sullivan said she can’t wait to catch up with old friends from British Columbia to Newfoundland and all points in between.

“I’m hoping they have a good time in Medicine Hat,” Sullivan said.

“I just want to tell them, enjoy Medicine Hat and … have lots of fun.”