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N.B. preparing for the winter games

Aug 17, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Organizers of the 2018 winter games believe they have the right people in place to succeed.

Since North Battleford was announced as the host of the games last February, Co-Chair David Schell worked hard to organize venues and build a committee.

Schell recently visited the summer games held in Estevan and said he learned a lot about what it takes to keep things on track.

“We have a great team and great people in the division chairs to ensure success,” Schell said. “One thing the guys from Estevan told us is that even if you have one weak link it can drag the whole thing down. Other people have to pick up the slack and it’s a lot of slack.”

Schell said the games will need upwards of 2,000 volunteers and even though he has two years to find them, he still needs the “right people.”

“If you’re volunteering you have to have fun or it’s like an unpaid job,” Schell said. “The people of North Battleford are amazing and I know they are so proud to have the games. I can’t see lack of volunteers being a problem.”

Next on the list for Schell is getting the name of the games incorporated. Schell and fellow co-chair Rob Rongve brought shirts to city council and are waiting for approval on the name ‘The 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games North Battleford Inc.’

Schell said North Battleford is a perfect place for the games because all the sports have venues which can be easily supported close by. He said most venues haven’t been “written in stone” but the big ones like hockey and curling are pretty straight forward.

According to Schell, Estevan did an amazing job converting its high school into an athlete’s village. He said North Battleford Comprehensive High School would be a perfect fit for the job.

 

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.