Southern Alberta Summer Games update

Adam Grose, Diane Burt-Stuckey, and Kristen George
J. Launstein photo

Jenaya Launstein, Sports

The 45th annual Southern Alberta Summer Games (SASG) are being held right here in Pincher Creek from July 2nd to July 5th. I interviewed Recreation Manager Adam Grose, Director Diane Burt-Stuckey, and new Summer Games Co-ordinator Kristen George about the upcoming games and they gave me all the information currently available.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at the Agro grounds on July 2nd at 7:00 PM. There will be a free BBQ, a parade, lighting of the torch, and more.

During the games there will be activities for everyone to enjoy in several parts of town. The Summer Games Committee is actively discussing a number of exciting options for residents to participate in.

Diane explained that they will be updating several things in town for the games, including the Lions Ball Park, the track, and the volleyball court. The ball park needs new dugouts and shale, the track needs to be lined, and the volleyball court needs some freshening up as well. They are even thinking of adding an additional temporary volleyball court just for the games! When asked when the updates will be taking place, Diane said that they plan to get started as soon as all the snow is off the ground, and have hope everything will be completed 2-3 weeks before the games start.

Pincher Creek last held the SASG in 2004. Last year we sent around 70 athletes to Taber to compete, but when we held the games in 2004 we had over 300 athletes. Let’s go for even more this year Pincher!

There will be 13 regions competing; from as far as Medicine Hat and Vulcan, to closer places like Lethbridge and Crowsnest Pass, and lots of places in between.

If you would like to register to be an athlete at the summer games, registration starts on May 1st and ends on June 4th. The most popular sports are usually soccer and swimming, so you should probably register right away for those ones. The hardest sport to fill is track, so all you runners should help us out! Ball hockey is also difficult to fill, which just seems wrong for a small Canadian town with such an awesome hockey base as Pincher Creek has.

Diane explained that she hopes that we can have at least one team for every sport at the games. As a result, they will be promoting the games and talking to several sports clubs soon in hopes of getting even more athletes registered. Volunteers are also always welcome.

Let’s go for the gold, Pincher Creek!