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COMMUNITY: Lethbridge to host first-ever “Alberta 55 Plus” Winter Games

            (AlbertaIndex, June 29, Friday) --- The city of Lethbridge has been awarded the inaugural Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games in 2009, providing Albertans 55 years of age and older the opportunity to compete in a provincial winter sports competition for the very first time. 

            Over 1,000 participants, their families and spectators will spend four days in southern Alberta when Lethbridge hosts the games.
           
Potential events include nordic and alpine skiing, curling and ice hockey. A cultural component including creative writing and arts and crafts will also be part of the games. The games are expected to generate up to $2 million worth of economic activity.
            “Being active is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle at any age,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture.
            “The 55 Plus Winter Games will complement the successful summer games, and give seniors even more opportunities to compete and be active. Congratulations to the people of Lethbridge for being chosen to host the first-ever Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games.”
            The Alberta 55 Plus games replaces what has been known as the Alberta Seniors Games. The games are coordinated by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Alberta 55 Plus Association (formerly known as Alberta Senior Citizens Sport and Recreation Association).
            Participants earn the right to attend the games by qualifying through zone playoffs organized by the Alberta 55 Plus Association.
            The Alberta government will provide $370,000 in support of the 2009 Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games through the, Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation which includes a cultural grant of $20,000 from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
            The first Alberta Seniors Games were held in Camrose in 1980.
            Staged every two years, the 2007 summer games will be held in Fort Saskatchewan July 26 - 29. For more information, visit www.2007albertaseniorsgames.com.
            The 2009 summer games will be held in Airdrie.

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