By Jessie Weisner

Council approves bid to host 2020 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games

Jun 3, 2019 | 8:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Medicine Hat City Council has voted to submit a formal bid to host the 2022 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

Council voted unanimously to submit a $300,000 bid to host the event.

If Medicine Hat were chosen as the host city, it would be the first time the games have been held in Alberta in 30 years.

The games are expected to attract 1,100 athletes, 300 support personnel and 2,800 out of town visitors.

“So one athlete could maybe bring in five or six people to the city,” says Mayor Ted Clugston. “So when you think about 1500 athletes times four, five, six people per athlete it’s quite a bit.”

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The city is also required to act as a guarantor for the amount of $2.1 million. The guarantee would only be required if the game’s revenues don’t offset its expenses.

Council didn’t express concern about the possible expense, saying the games have never seen a loss.

Nova Scotia hosted the games in 2018 in Antigonish. It earned an economic impact of $8.7 million.

Local facilities would be utilized, and provided to the games for free. The city would likely develop partnerships with local school divisions and the track association.

Although it’s unknown who else is bidding, the city confident that its reputation of hosting previous sporting events will help its case.

“I don’t want to say we’ve got it, but we’ve got a pretty good chance,” says Clugston.

The host community is expected to be announced in September.