The City of Surrey wants to host the 2015 BC Seniors Games, which will bring approximately $2 million in economic activity to the city and create lasting sport and community legacies.
“Hosting the BC Seniors Games would be a great opportunity to showcase our city as a leader in sport hosting. It will encourage active living for our seniors, and provide many social, economic and sport development opportunities for our community,” says Mayor Dianne Watts. “And, we have a tremendous team of volunteers who have the experience and spirit to help us host such a significant event.”
Surrey hosted the 2012 BC Summer Games, and earlier this year Softball Canada announced that Surrey has been chosen as the Canadian bid City for the 2016 International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship. This event would be the first fastpitch world championship ever to be held in B.C.
The city launched a new Sport Tourism Strategy in February designed to advance Surrey as a leader in the industry and premier destination for regional and international sporting events. Through the Build Surrey program, the City is building several new national-class recreational facilities and sports fields, including two new aquatic centres. These new venues will further expand the type and number of sport hosting opportunities available to the City.
“Surrey has demonstrated the ability to organize outstanding major sporting events, and we are well-positioned to host the event because of the expertise that was developed through hosting the BC Summer Games this past July,” says Coun. Linda Hepner, chair of the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Sport Tourism Committee. She adds one-quarter of Surrey’s population is over the age of 55.
The BC Seniors Games is an annual, multi-sport event for athletes aged 55 and over who compete in 29 different sports. It is one the largest Games organized in the province with approximately 4,000 athletes and coaches participating in a four-day event.
The city will submit a bid proposal to the BC Seniors Games Society to host the event, which will be held from Sept. 15-19, 2015. The City of Surrey last hosted the event in 2001.
For more information on the Sport Tourism Strategy, visit: http://www.surrey.ca/plans-strategies/12922.aspx.