500 participants in parasport games Mississauga
Mississauga – CanadiaNews – Hawa Toronto
Mississauga has officially kicked-off the 2022 Ontario Parasport Games. Hundreds of athletes, spectators and special guests gathered together this evening to mark the beginning of a two-day athletic competition.
The opening ceremony was held at Mississauga Celebration Square (MCS) and featured an official ceremony with remarks from Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Gimma Laforme, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, along with video remarks from Mississauga Host Councillors Pat Saito, Ward 9 and Matt Mahoney, Ward 8 and Games Co-Chairs, Susan Stewart and Billy Bridges, Olympic Parasport athletes.
The opening ceremony also included an athletes’ parade, a torch relay and lighting of the cauldron, capped off with a headlining performance by Mississauga’s very-own, Alex Porat.
“Mississauga is honoured to host the 2022 Ontario Parasport Games. I’m thrilled to be celebrating this important sporting event together and in person once again,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “We welcome all of the athletes, from those that have travelled far and wide to our homegrown competitors, as they strive for gold in our world-class sporting facilities.”
The Ontario Parasport games are comprised of 500 participants ages 12 to 35. Athletes will compete in nine different sports this weekend, including sledge hockey, wheelchair tennis and basketball, sitting volleyball, para-karate, 5-A side-soccer, boccia, para-athletics and goalball.
“On behalf of myself and my Parasport Games Co-Host Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney, we want to thank our Games Co-Chairs, Susan and Billy, for their guidance, experience and knowledge throughout our journey to deliver this weekend’s games,” said Pat Saito, Ward 9 Councillor and Games Host Councillor. “We also want to congratulate all of our athletes for their outstanding achievements as well as their coaches and families whose support and encouragement helped them get to this point in their athletic careers. We know a lot of hard work, sacrifice and dedication has brought you to this day and we wish everyone the best of luck as you begin this weekend of incredible competition.”
Mississauga was originally named as the host city for both the Ontario Parasport Games and Ontario Summer Games in April 2019. The Ontario Parasport Games, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On behalf of my colleague and Co-Chair Billy Bridges, best of luck to all of this year’s participants,” said Games Co-Chair, Susan Stewart. “We appreciate the hard work that went into preparing for these Games by staff and the organizing committees. We also want to thank all of our sponsors and dedicated volunteers who help contribute to the overall success of the Ontario Parasport Games.”
Mississauga is preparing for the Ontario Summer Games, coming in July 2022. To learn more about the Ontario Parasport Games, visit sauga2022games.ca.
About the Ontario Parasport Games
The 2022 Ontario Parasport Summer Games take place in Mississauga from May 13 to 15, 2022. Over 500 participants of various ages from across Ontario will compete in nine different sports, including sledge hockey, wheelchair tennis and basketball, sitting volleyball, para-karate 5-A side-soccer, boccia, para-athletics and goalball. The Ontario Parasport Games is supported by the Ontario Government, through its Games Ontario program. This program supports multi-sport events, including the Ontario Winter and Summer Games for youth, the Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games, and the Ontario Parasport Games. View 2022 sport schedules.
Who
