Halifax, NS -- Chanting "Who Rocks The House", 341 members of Team BC marched into Halifax Metro Centre Friday to the cheers of a full house of spectators, dignitaries and fellow Canada Winter Games participants from across the country. BC's Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Stephanie Cadieux, was front and centre to receive the high-spirited contingent which had been fuelled by an earlier pep rally.
Tori Spence of Kamloops, one of BC's and Canada's rising stars in the sport of long track speed skating, carried the flag for Team BC. Among the dignitaries greeting the teams were Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.
"Congratulations to the 2011 Canada Games Host Society for putting on a very athlete centred opening ceremonies," said Team BC Chef de Mission Ajay Patel. "Everyone at Team BC really enjoyed the ceremony especially the diverse culture expressed throughout the program.
"The lighting of the flame was a thrill for all of our athletes and everyone else on Team BC."
Competition in the 11 sports during week one of the Games begins Saturday.
Team BC has brought a dedicated team of 242 athletes, 74 coaches, three National Artists and 22 mission staff to the Games in Halifax. Approximately 2,700 athletes, coaches, managers and officials have come to the Games from every province and territory in Canada.
The Canada Games is a national multi-sport Games competition that brings together the best athletes 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.
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Photos to accompany this press release can be downloaded at .www.teambc.org/photos
Media Contact:
Jan Mansfield
Team BC Communications Manager
januscom@shaw.ca; 902-719-8093