By David Klassen
It’s been in its planning stages for the last three years, and now the 2010 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games are ready to go.
Almost 3,500 athletes will gather in the largest multi-sport event in the province this weekend in Portage la Prairie.
Coming off the heels of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, these games will feature 10 different sports: artistic gymnastics, badminton, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, five pin bowling, hockey, ringette, Special Olympics and volleyball.
The Opening Ceremonies will kick things off Sunday at the PCU Centre beginning at 8 p.m., with competition running until Saturday, March 13.
Organizers anticipate the impact to the local economy to be over $1 million.
The Province of Manitoba provides the host community with an $80,000 operational grant and an additional $80,000, which was matched by the host community, for facility development.
A complete schedule of events is available at ManitobaGames.ca.
— With files from a news release
