Salmon Arm, Kelowna, Kamloops all finalists in GamesTown 2010
January 8, 2010 by Lynn Knell
Filed under BC government, Business, Headlines, Kamloops news, Kelowna news, Local government, Recreation, Salmon Arm news
Salmon Arm, together with Kelowna and Kamloops, is among the 10 GamesTown 2010 finalists. This photo by James Rowe was the grand winner in Salmon Arm's photo contest. (Photo courtesy City of Salmon Arm)
After counting nearly 200,000 ballots, the BC Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow, Mary McNeil, has announced that British Columbians have chosen 10 communities around the province to be finalists in the contest for the title of GamesTown 2010.
Congratulations to the top 10 communities of Houston, Princeton, Smithers, Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Dawson Creek, Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna and Coquitlam.
“These communities have shown their healthy living and Olympic spirit in ways that have really resonated with British Columbians,” said Ms. McNeil. “Congratulations to all the communities that entered the contest, for demonstrating their excitement and enthusiasm for the 2010 Games, and their commitment to a healthier, more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.”
A panel of GamesTown 2010 celebrity judges – Dr. Rhonda Low of CTV, Dr. Art Hister of Global and Olympians Steve Podborski, Simon Whitfield and Nancy Greene Raine – will now choose the three winning communities. Cash awards of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, will be given to the gold, silver and bronze winners, plus 2010 Olympic and Paralympic tickets. An announcement will be made by the end of the month.
GamesTown 2010 is an ActNow BC initiative that was launched in February 2009, allowing British Columbians in communities across the province to submit stories, photos and videos to the GamesTown 2010 website.
Entries for the contest are judged on their creativity and enthusiasm for healthy living and sport, environmental sustainability, their spirit for the 2010 Games and the community’s participation in the World Healthy Living Challenge. The GamesTown 2010 website will continue to operate during the Games as a platform for the 124 communities to share stories, photos and videos about their Games spirit, and in particular the torch relay.
