Whitehorse Daily Star

Team Yukon heading to Canada 55+ Games

Team Yukon begins competing Tuesday at the Canada 55+ Games in Saint John, N.B.

By Whitehorse Star on August 17, 2018

Team Yukon begins competing Tuesday at the Canada 55+ Games in Saint John, N.B.

Most of the team leaves here Sunday and arrives Monday, co-chef de mission Marg White said Thursday while touring through Nova Scotia on her way to Saint John.

She said there are 138 athletes and about 25 cheerleaders going to the Games.

The average age of Team Yukon is 68, ranging from 55 years old to 93-year-old Betty Herbert, who’ll be competing in the cribbage tournament.

Eleven participants are over the age of 80.

There are 56 participants or one-third of the team who are over 70 years of age, and there are 27 from four communities other than Whitehorse: Dawson City, Watson Lake, Haines Junction and Tagish.

White said Yukoners will be competing in 17 of the 22 events.

The track and field team with 21 athletes is the largest.

It’s expected there’ll be close to 2,000 participants in Saint John.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday morning.

White said the host city for the 2020 Games will be announced at the opening ceremonies.

Whitehorse has submitted a bid. Fort McMurray, Alta., Kamloops, B.C., and Calgary have also submitted bids.

Whitehorse hosted the Games in 2004.

The fact Whitehorse was planning to bid was one of the driving forces behind the decision to go ahead this year with the re-construction of the new track and field facility behind F.H. Collins Secondary School. Without a commitment to a new track and field, Whitehorse could not have bid.

Completion of the facility, including an eight-lane rubberized track, is scheduled for next summer.

Comments (1)

Up 1 Down 1

YoungAtHeart on Aug 17, 2018 at 4:22 pm

Yay , I'm 91 and up for some Mixed Luge. My wife is 88 years young and can show some of these young whippersnappers a thing or two. ( I tried whipping up some energy but I snapped my lower tendons during the run up. So the missus rides on top these days whilst I ride shotgun.). Go Team Yukon !!

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