The medals will have to wait until next summer to be handed out, after it was announced the Saskatchewan Summer Games will be postponed to July 2021. (Facebook/Saskatchewan Summer Games)

By Martin Martinson

Saskatchewan Athletics

Saskatchewan Summer Games postponed to 2021

Apr 29, 2020 | 3:00 PM

The 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games have been postponed to next year, due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Originally scheduled to take place in Lloydminster from July 26 to Aug. 1, the games will now be tentatively scheduled to run in the border city from July 18 to 24, 2021.

The Saskatchewan Games are one of the largest amateur sporting events in the province, featuring participation from over 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials from around the province in 15 summer sports.

While the decision to postpone was not made gently, Kevin Kusch, chairperson of the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games Host Society said via statement, it’s important to keep things in perspective.

“From athletes to spectators, health and safety are of the utmost importance,” Kusch said. “The decision to postpone was not easy, but it is right. Now that a decision has been made, the athletes, coaches and support staff can focus on their well-being during this critical time while resetting and recalibrating for 2021.

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“As a Host Society, we are excited to continue our efforts in 2021 to ensure the games’ success,” he added.

The Saskatchewan Summer Games take place every two years, alternating with the biennial Winter Games; allowing the flexibility to bump the event to next summer so long as the pandemic situation is resolved by that point.

Highlighting the importance of the games, a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Games Council said the games “provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to experience an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for higher levels of competition,” with many athletes moving on to events such as the Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, North American Indigenous Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1