It was just a few months ago when our eyes were on Tokyo as that city hosted athletes from across the globe.
Now, we’re preparing do it again as Beijing gets ready for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As always, an outstanding contingent of athletes from Saskatchewan are vying for spots Team Canada. We’ll be documenting their journey to Beijing on cheeronsask.ca, but before the opening ceremonies, let’s set the scene.
Here are three reasons to Cheer on Sask this winter!
1. See Saskatchewan athletes step up
A spot on Team Canada doesn’t come easy and it’s an incredible accomplishment to even be in contention.
In the leadup to the games, dozens of curlers, skiers, speedskaters, hockey players and other athletes — representing communities across the province — will be on the shortlist for a ticket to Beijing. A current list of these athletes is available below. (Note: This list will be revised as the final Team Canada roster is confirmed in the buildup to the Beijing Games).
- MORE: Meet Our Athletes
2. Celebrate your community
Saskatchewan’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls didn’t get to this point in their athletic careers alone. They’re a part of a robust amateur sport community that fosters high-quality opportunities for participants and delivers critical resources to high-performance athletes.
In Saskatchewan, many of these activities are supported by Sask Lotteries — the main fundraiser for more than 12,000 sport, culture and recreation groups.
This fundraiser supports programs for athletes of all ages and abilities and empowers coaches, officials and volunteers who are helping future stars reach the next level.
So the next time you see a Saskatchewan athlete on the world stage, be sure to cheer them on and thank a local coach, official and volunteer — all of whom are create opportunities for athletes of today and tomorrow!
3. Watch history in the making
At the recent Summer and Olympic Paralympic Games, we saw some incredible performances from Saskatchewan athletes. These are just some of the highlights from Tokyo:
- Para cyclist Keely Shaw of Midale earned a bronze-medal at the Paralympics.
- Para swimmers Nikita Ens of Meadow Lake and Shelby Newkirk of Saskatoon both set Canadian records at the Paralympics.
- Jenny Gilbert of Saskatoon won an Olympic bronze medal as part of the Canadian women’s softball team.
In Beijing, a new class of athletes will make their own history and we’ll be following along and celebrating all of their hard work and dedication.
Who will land on the podium? Stay tuned!
Photo Credits: International Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee
Sask Lotteries is the main fundraiser benfitting more than 12,000 sport, culture and recreation organizations every year. It’s made possible through an agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan, which licenses Sask Sport to operate Sask Lotteries. Proceeds from the sale of these lottery products, such as DAILY GRAND, LOTTO MAX and LOTTO 6/49, are dedicated to eligible sport, culture and recreation organizations to benefit communities across Saskatchewan
Learn more about Sask Lotteries and its non-profit beneficiaries at sasklotteries.ca.