2009 Canada Games

2009 Sports

At the 2009 Canada Games, there will be 18 different sports. Sports are selected for a particular Canada Games program approximately five years in advance. The Canada Games Council sends a call for applications to the national sport organizations with a detailed sport selection process that includes minimum eligibility criteria, one being a requirement for at least nine affiliated provincial or territorial sport organizations and a level 3 technical program under the National Coaching Certification Program. Once the sport is confirmed, the national sport organization develops a ‘technical package’ that is sent to each provincial / territorial team outlining what is required to submit an entry for that particular sport.

The two-week Canada Games has some sport events taking place in Week 1, and others in Week 2. The determination of what sports will take place in what week largely depends on balancing both the total number of athletes and gender. There are approximately 4,400 athletes, coaches and managers coming to Prince Edward Island over two weeks in 2009, about 2,200 each week.

Schedules will be posted on the website as soon as they become available.

Basketball

Basketball was introduced at the first Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City. In 2009, male and female competitions will take place during Week One at the Summerside Wellness Centre and Three Oaks Senior High School. All games will be played under FIBA rules and each competition will be played in two divisions with round robin play in each. The top two teams will play off for medals and other teams for ranking. Pool seeding is based on the results of the 2008 National Juvenile Championships. Canada Basketball

Cycling

Cycling has been a sport since the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For the 2009 Games, Cycling will be held during Week One with the individual time trial and road race portions taking place in the Evangeline Region, the points criterium component along the Summerside Waterfront, and cross country at Brookvale Winter Activity Park.

Diving

Diving was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 at Centennial Pool in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The platform event for the 2009 Games will also take place at Centennial Pool in Halifax while the 1-,3-, and 3- metre synchronized events will be held at the CARI Aquatics Facility in Charlottetown, all during Week One. With the exception of the synchronized event which will follow FINA rules, the other diving events will be held in accordance with Diving Canada Rules.

Rugby

Rugby first made its appearance at the Canada Games in 1981 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Rugby will be played in 2009 at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside during Week One. Rugby will follow the Laws of the Game of Rugby Football at Under 19 level, as framed by the International Rugby Football Board. Seeding is based on the results of the 2008 Under 18 National Championships. Competition will consist of a 2 pool format and after round robin play, teams will be ranked 1-8 for Quarter Final Play.

Sailing

Sailing was a sport at the first Canada Summer Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1969. It will appear at the 2009 edition of the Games out of the Summerside Yacht Club during Week One. The regatta will be governed by rules defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing and will include Single-handed Laser and Double handed – 29er events for males and Single-handed Laser Radial and Double handed- 29er events for females.

Female Soccer

Female soccer was introduced at the 1993 Canada Games in Kamloops, British Columbia. On Prince Edward Island, female soccer will be played during Week One at the new artificial field at the Summerside Wellness Centre, and at existing pitches at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School and Westisle Composite School in Elmsdale. Seeding is based on the final results of the 2005 Canada Games. The competition will consist of four groups of three teams, each playing a round-robin within the group. The top two teams in each group will participate in the Medal Round while the bottom team in each group will drop into the Consolation Round. Games will be a knock-out format but all teams continue to play for placings
Softball

Softball was played at the first Canada Summer Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1969. For the 2009 Games, only females will play softball, during Week One. Venues include VIV Softball Field in Summerside, Alberton Memorial Field, Tignish Legion Ball Field, École Évangéline Softball Field in Abram-Village, Lions Club Field in Kensington, and O’Leary Softball Field (new). 2009 Softball Canada official playing rules for the midget age category will be followed and seeding will be based on the results of the 2008 Midget Canadian Championships. Competition will follow a round-robin format, with pools being established if there are eleven or more teams entered.

Tennis

Tennis was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Tennis will be played in 2009 at the Victoria Park Tennis Courts in Charlottetown during Week One.

Triathlon

2009 will mark the first for Triathlon to appear in the Canada Games. The course will be centred at the Summerside waterfront during Week One. All male and female competitors will compete in two separate events: the Individual Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and the Team Triathlon (300m swim, 7km bike, 2km Run). Competitions will be run under Triathlon Canada Competition Rules.

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball was introduced to the Canada Games program at the recent 2001 Games in London, Ontario. For 2009, play will occur at new courts on the Summerside Wellness Centre property during Week One. Competition will follow Volleyball Canada rules and will be a round-robin with 2 pools of 6 teams with a ‘cross over’ Championship Round. Pools will be seeded from the results of the 2001 Canada Games.

Male Wrestling

Male Wrestling was introduced at the first Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City. For 2009, Male Wrestling will take place during Week One. Match rules are those detailed in the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Rule Book. Competitors can compete in either the weight class determined by their weight or in one weight class above, except in the case of the 130 kg category where all competitors must weigh at least 115 kg. The competition format will be dual meets on the first two days with individual competitions on the third day. Wrestling Canada

Rowing

Rowing was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rowing will take place during Week One on the Southwest River.

Athletics

Athletics was part of the inaugural Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There will be a new Athletics Centre built in Charlottetown for the 2009 Canada Games for competition during Week Two. Athletics comprises 25 track and field events for men and 24 for women, including events for wheelchair track athletes and Special Olympics athletes.

Baseball

Baseball was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2009, baseball will include male competition only during Week 2 at the following fields: Memorial Field in Charlottetown, MacNeil Baseball Field in Stratford, and Clipper Field in Cardigan. Teams will be seeded according to the results of the 2005 Canada Games, and grouped in two pools. Following round-robin play within each pool, the top two teams in each pool will play off for medals, while the others will play for ranking. Games will be 7 innings, unless tied.

Golf
2009 will mark the first time Golf appears as a sport in the Canada Games. Golf will be played at the Brudenell River Golf Course in Roseneath during Week Two of the 2009 Games. Rules of play are those of the Royal Canadian Golf Association while competition will include both Team Competition (54-hole Stroke Play) and Individual Competition (72-hole Stroke Play).

Male Soccer

Male Soccer was introduced at the 1969 Canada Games, the first summer edition, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2009, Male Soccer will played during Week Two at the following venues: Eastern Eagles Soccer Complex in Lower Montague, Jerry McCormack Memorial Field in Souris, Morell Soccer Complex, Stratford Soccer Field, and University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown. Seeding is based on the final results of the 2005 Canada Games. The competition will consist of four groups of three teams, each playing a round-robin within the group. The top two teams in each group will participate in the Medal Round while the bottom team in each group will drop into the Consolation Round. Games will be a knock-out format but all teams continue to play for placings.

Swimming

Swimming was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Swimming will take place during Week Two of the 2009 Games at the CARI Aquatics Facility in Charlottetown and Southwest River and will include divisions for Special Olympics athletes.

Volleyball

Volleyball was introduced as a winter sport at the first-ever Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City. For 2009, Volleyball will be played during Week Two at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre and MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown. Competition will follow Volleyball Canada rules and will consist of teams being divided into two pools, based on the results of the 2005 Canada Games. A preliminary round robin for each pool will take place, with a maximum of three teams from each pool advancing to the championship round. Those teams who do not advance will play in a Consolation Round.

Female Wrestling

Female Wrestling was introduced as a Canada Games sport at the 1989 Games in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 2009, the Female Wrestling event will take place during Week Two at the new Montague and Area Recreation Facility. Match rules are those detailed in the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Rule Book. Competitors can compete in either the weight class determined by their weight or in one weight class above, except in the case of the 90 kg category where all competitors must weigh at least 80 kg. The competition format will be dual meets on the first two days with individual competitions on the third day.

Canoe / Kayak

Canoe / Kayak was introduced at the first Canada Summer Games in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2009, Canoe / Kayak will be competed on a portion of the Southwest River near New London during Week Two.

Scalamobil

2009 PEI Games

The 2009 Canada Games were awarded to the Province of Prince Edward Island on August 21, 2006. Since then, a dedicated and growing group of Islanders has been working towards staging Canada’s ultimate inter-provincial and territorial sporting competition from August 15-29, 2009. For more on the Canada Games movement, click here.

Over this two week period, we expect 4,400 participants, 6,000 volunteers, 10,000 visitors from ‘off-Island’, and over 300 media. Because the 2009 Games will be staged across the entire Province, participants, visitors and Islanders alike will have plenty of opportunity to experience the beauty and cultural uniqueness of Prince Edward Island. Some unique characteristics of the Games include the fact that there will be two Athletes Villages, one for week one, and another for week two, and that the sport competition will be held in over 40 different venues. Our 2009 Canada Games will truly be spread from tip to tip!

The hosting of a Canada Games is a huge undertaking for any Host Society, and we could not do it without the support of our funding partners, the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island, as well as our corporate sponsors such as the maker of whey protein, ProteinCo.

The primary objective of the Canada Games is national and provincial sport development of Canadian youth. The Games provide the stimulus for Canadian youth to reach their athletic potential, pursue personal excellence and develop socially and culturally within the context of ethical competition.

The character of the Games has changed little over the years, although the 1990’s saw an increased importance on sport development. National and provincial sport organizations are mandated to put emphasis on building a comprehensive Canadian sport system, and host communities are challenged with creating facilities and programs that will serve sport needs long after the Games have left.

Building on the success of the Games, the Canada Games Council has broadened its focus to also include ‘between Games’ initiatives. This new focus on resources, programs, activities, tools and events for Canada’s youth between the Games, 52 weeks a year, is called Dreams and Champions.

The first goal of Dreams and Champions is to Inspire Dreams in Canada’s youth and encourage them to participate in sport and physical activity. One initiative that does just this is Canada Games Days, an event that offers young people, 4 to 14 years of age, a sport and educational experience that mirrors the excitement and spirit of the Canada Games.

The second goal is to Build Champions by providing the programs, tools and support young athletes need to reach and succeed at higher levels. For example, the Canada Games Council and the Foundation for Athletes Sport Training (FAST) have partnered to build the Canada Games FAST Track athlete grant. The program will provide direct financial assistance to Canada’s next generation national team athletes to support their training and competition needs.

Over the next several years, the Canada Games Council will work with other partners in Canada’s sport system to build the inventory of programs within Dreams and Champions so that more young Canadians have access to what they need to get involved and stay involved in sport and physical activity.

The Process
The Canada Games has an established rotation cycle, that is, the province or territory that is designated to host a particular Games is identified many years in advance of the bid process. Typically, bids are then accepted from communities within that province or territory.

The bid preparation begins over five years in advance of the Games. At that time, the Canada Games Council forwards the Bid Procedures and Requirements (which includes the list of sports and facilities and the financial framework for the Games) and invites the responsible provincial government to nominate up to three municipalities that the province is prepared to support as possible Games hosts. If more than three municipalities are interested in bidding for the Games, the provincial government must conduct some type of short-listing selection process.

Once the three finalists are known, the Council conducts an evaluation of each bid, including site visits to each bidding municipality. The evaluation looks objectively at dozens of areas within the following five major categories: participant care and comfort; logistics, technical and operational; finance, budgeting and marketing; leadership and community support; and legacy.

The Council’s final evaluation report and recommendation are forwarded to the host provincial minister, who makes the final site selection decision.

PEI’s Bid
Since 2009 was Prince Edward Island’s turn to host a Summer Games, the Provincial Government formed a Bid Committee, proposing a plan to the Canada Games Council which would see the entire province, not one municipality, host the 2009 Games. The awarding of the Games to Prince Edward Island took place on August 21, 2006 and represents the first time a province-wide bid was accepted.

The Prince Edward Island 2009 Canada Games Host Society was formed shortly thereafter, to plan and operate the 2009 Games.

Future Games
2011 Canada Winter Games: Halifax, Nova Scotia
2013 Canada Summer Games: Quebec (bid process to begin in 2008)

The Canada Games is a multi-sport and cultural event that brings together the best athletes and artists in a specified age group from each Canadian province and territory. The primary objective of the Games and the Games movement is national and provincial sport development of Canadian youth. The Games provide the stimulus for Canadian youth to reach their athletic potential, pursue personal excellence and develop socially and culturally within the context of ethical competition. The Games rotate across the country and facilities built for the Games often serve as a sporting legacy to the host communities.

The Canada Games Council is the not-for-profit organization responsible for all aspects of the Games, including the philosophy, objectives and the development of policies and procedures to guide the preparation and staging of the Canada Winter and Summer Games. Their partners include federal, provincial and territorial governments, National Sport Organizations and their affiliated Provincial Sport Organizations. Additionally, host cities, provinces, and territories, Host Societies and corporate sponsors are partners in the staging of each Canada Games event. In 2009, the Province of Prince Edward Island will host the Canada Games August 15-29th.

The thought of staging the Canada Games first arose in 1924, at a meeting in Winnipeg of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. For more than 40 years it remained a frequent subject of discussion. Finally, in 1966 in Quebec City, the governments of Canada and Quebec gave their joint approval to a proposal to hold the first Games the following year, coinciding with Canada’s 1967 Centennial celebrations.

Since then, at two year intervals, twenty more ceremonial torches have been ignited to signal the start of successive Canada Games with now over 50,000 participants. With Prince Edward Island having hosted the 1991 Winter Games, each province has now hosted the Games at least once, with several having hosted twice already. In 2007, the first Games were held north of the 60th parallel, in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Canada Games has taken on a new importance over the past number of years in Canada’s overall sport strategy. Canadian sport policy positions Canada Games as to target next generation National Team members and future Olympians.