QUÉBEC, Nov. 10, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - With less than three months to go before the 2015 Winter World Masters Games, the Québec City Masters Games Committee has officially launched this major winter multi-sport competition for athletes age 30 and up. The Games will be held from January 31 to February 8, 2015, in the festive atmosphere of the Québec City Winter Carnival on breathtaking urban and recreational sites such as the Plains of Abraham. They will showcase Québec City, the ideal place to hold international sports events.
The launch—held at the Jacques-Cartier Curling Club in the presence of Sam Hamad, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region, Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec City, representatives of the clubs and organizations involved, and tourism industry representatives—was also an opportunity to confirm the estimated $1.3 million in funding for the event. The economic spinoffs are estimated at over $6 million.
"I'm proud to support the 2015 Winter World Masters Games, a world-class event, in the Capitale-Nationale Region for the first time. Our hosting of this multi-sport event demonstrates yet again our expertise in organizing major events and the warm welcome of people from Québec City and the surrounding area," said Minister Sam Hamad.
"I am thrilled that Québec City will soon be welcoming elite athletes from around the world," said Québec City major Régis Labeaume. "But I also want to send a message to Québec City athletes age 30 and over: register now while there's still time! It will be a great source of pride for me and all Québec City residents to see local athletes win awards at this international event."
"Registration is well underway," said Claude Rousseau, president of Québec City's hockey team Remparts and honorary co-chair of the Games. "More than 500 athletes from some twenty countries, ranging in age from 30 to 87, have so far signed up for one of the nine official sports (biathlon, curling, ice hockey, short track skating, long track skating, marathon skating, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, and triathlon). And the organizing committee invites all athletes in and around Québec City to register and come see how they match up against competitors from around the world in one of the 40 events on the program."
The Québec City Masters Games Committee will build on the experience of area sports clubs and organizations to organize and plan competitions. The Committee will also station specialists at competition sites during the Games.
About the Games
The World Masters Games are organized by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), a nonprofit organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The first Winter World Games were held in Bled, Slovenia, in 2010. The IMGA developed the winter component of the Games after the resounding success of the summer games, which have been held every four years for the last 20 years.
Image with caption: "Left to right : Sam Hamad, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region, Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec City and Claude Rousseau, president of Québec City’s hockey team Remparts and honorary co-chair of the Games. (CNW Group/Société du Centre des congrès de Québec)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141110_C8737_PHOTO_EN_7780.jpg
Image with caption: "Claude Rousseau received his very first curling lesson. (CNW Group/Société du Centre des congrès de Québec)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141110_C8737_PHOTO_EN_7781.jpg
SOURCE: Société du Centre des congrès de Québec
Ann Cantin, Director, Communications and Marketing, Québec City Convention Centre, 418-649-7711, ext. 4054, [email protected]; Dominique D'Anjou, Communications Coordinator, Secrétariat à la Capitale-nationale, 418-644-5039; Salim Idrissi, Press Officer, Office of the Minister of Labourand Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region, 418-643-5297; Rose-Marie Ayotte, Communications Advisor, City of Québec, 418-641-6210, [email protected]
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