The BC Games Society has finalized the list of 18 sports that will be contested at the 2018 BC Summer Games in the Cowichan Valley.
As many as 2,808 athletes, 543 coaches and 373 officials will pack the Valley on July 19-22 for four days of competition.
“The BC Games experience provides inspiration for B.C. athletes to take forward in their future sport, education, or leadership activities,” said Kelly Mann, president and CEO of the BC Games Society. “It is through the commitment of our Provincial Sport Organization partners that the BC Summer Games have been a success for the past 40 years.”
The sports are led by organizations who have demonstrated commitment to developing athletes, coaches and officials.
All of the sports that were played at the 2016 games in Abbotsford will return for 2018: athletics, baseball, basketball (five-on-five and three-on-three), canoe/kayak, equestrian, golf, lacrosse (box and field), rowing, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, synchronized swimming, towed water sports (waterskiing, wake boarding, and barefooting), triathlon, volleyball (indoor and beach) and wrestling.
Rugby has a strong presence in the Cowichan Valley and BC Rugby is excited about the opportunity to grow the sport through the 2018 games.
“This past year was a huge success for girls rugby in the BC Summer Games,” said Darcy Patterson, development officer for BC Rugby. “It was the first time we were able to field a team in all eight zones and it has contributed to the growth of rugby throughout all of B.C. It was the catalyst to the recent inaugural BC Rugby Girls’ Invitational Sevens Rugby Tournament in Kamloops. We are excited to have this opportunity in 2018 and will look forward to the lasting effects of the Games on the growth of sevens rugby in B.C.”
New for 2018 is the addition of a category for athletes with a disability to compete in canoe kayak. Athletes with disabilities also compete in athletics, equestrian, and swimming.
Athletes from the Cowichan Valley won or helped their teams win a total of 41 medals at the 2016 games in Abbotsford as Vancouver Island-Central Coast topped the overall medal count.