Premier Christy Clark announces $100,000 support for Skate Canada International event at Prospera Place.
Image Credit: Steve Beskidny/Global Okanagan
April 16, 2014 - 1:09 PM
KELOWNA - Christy Clark announced today the province is offering $100,000 support for the Skate Canada International event that will bring international competitors and visitors to Kelowa this autumn.
"Skate Canada International will bring the world's best skaters and our future Olympians to Kelowna for an event that will attract thousands of visitors," Premier Clark said in a press release from the province. "I know that Kelowna residents and businesses will welcome them with open arms."
This is the first time Kelowna has hosted the event and nearly 20,000 spectators are expected to fill Prospera Place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2014. Big economic returns for the region are anticipated, with the 2013 event in Saint John New Brunswick generating spinoffs estimated at $4 million, according to the release. The funding will come through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
A television audience of nearly two million viewers in Canada and 25 million worldwide will watch approximately 60 of the world's best figure skaters from 13 to 15 countries participating in four disaplines, Men's, Ladies, Pairs, and Ice Dance. About 200 volunteers will be on hand to assist.
"We know that Kelowna will warmly welcome the athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers and visitors to this beautiful part of our country," Skate Canada CEO Dan Thompson said. "With such an impressive calibre of Canadian and international competitors at the 2014 Skate Canada International, we know that the next generation of B.C. skaters will be inspired by having this event in their community. We would like to thank the B.C. government for the financial commitment to this event and for its ongoing support to growing sport in the province."
Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series, with other events taking place in the United States, China France, Russia and Japan. Skaters are awarded points based on their placements in the series' events. The top-six men and ladies and the top-six pair and ice dance teams qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December, 2014.
Previous Canadian winners include Patrick Chan, Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko in Men's; Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz in Ice Dance; and Liz Manley and Joannie Rochette in Ladies disaplines.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014