Next monthB次元官网网址檚 Olympic qualifier softball tournament in Surrey got a boost from the provincial government Wednesday afternoon.

At a media event held at South SurreyB次元官网网址檚 Softball City, it was announced that the provincial ministry of tourism, arts and culture is providing the 2019 Americas Olympic Qualifier tournament B次元官网网址� in which a dozen international womenB次元官网网址檚 fastpitch teams will vie for two spots in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo B次元官网网址� with $150,000 through the B次元官网网址楾ourism EventsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楳ajor EventsB次元官网网址� programs.

The tournament is set to run from Aug. 25 until Sept. 1, and will include the Canadian national team, which on Sunday won its on the same field at which the August qualifier will be held.

Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg described the funding as B次元官网网址渟ome great news about high-performance sport.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an enormous honour to have Team Canada softball players take to the diamond right here in Surrey in their quest for Olympic competition,B次元官网网址� Begg said during the news conference.

B次元官网网址淓vents like this reinforce B.C.B次元官网网址檚 reputation as a first-tier sports host. They also celebrate the achievement of women athletes, encouraging the next generation of young women to get involved and to stay in sport.B次元官网网址�

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Event organizers expect the week-long tournament to have an economic impact of $10 million for B.C., a news release notes.

Greg Timm, chair of the Americas qualifier organizing committee, told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 Wednesday that the cost of hosting the qualifier will be B次元官网网址渏ust short of $1 million,B次元官网网址� and that B次元官网网址� with 39 days to go B次元官网网址� around half of that has been raised so far.

He described the provincial injection as B次元官网网址渙ne of the most important components.B次元官网网址�

In addition to Canada, in the qualifier are Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, British Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic. Despite being in the B次元官网网址楢mericasB次元官网网址� region, the United States will not compete, as they have already qualified for the Olympic Games as a result of winning last summerB次元官网网址檚 world championship. Japan, as the host nation, have also already qualified for the six-team 2020 tournament.

B次元官网网址淭he dedication shown by the provincial government, for youth and amateur sport is inspiring,B次元官网网址� Timm said in a news release issued following WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 event.

B次元官网网址淭he committee, our volunteers and the players are incredibly grateful that the government has stepped up to the plate and provided an opportunity for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national team to host the Olympic qualifier on home soil.B次元官网网址�

Canada is currently ranked No. 3 in womenB次元官网网址檚 softball world rankings, behind only the U.S. and Japan.

TimmB次元官网网址檚 organizing committee is a not-for-profit group, and last month was still in need of to help fund the event, which was awarded to the City of Surrey in late January.

Timm told PAN earlier this week that a number of businesses had since expressed interest in sponsorship opportunities.

Team Canada pitcher Danielle Lawrie B次元官网网址� a former White Rock Renegades star B次元官网网址� was also on hand at this weekB次元官网网址檚 funding announcement, and expressed excitement at the prospect of playing next monthB次元官网网址檚 tournament in front of hometown fans.

B次元官网网址淭here is no greater honour than playing for your country, and the qualifier is going to be pivotal in fulfilling that dream,B次元官网网址� said Lawrie, who is one of just three national team holdovers from the team that competed at the 2008 Olympics, which was the last time the sport was part of the Games.

Lawrie said she came out of retirement to B次元官网网址渢ry to make another Olympic run.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 think for me, it was coming up short, kinda like a salty taste left in my mouth of how that (2008) Olympic journey went and how we were so close to winning a medal, and it just slipped through our fingertips,B次元官网网址� she told media.

B次元官网网址淭his is a team that I think we have a very, very strong chance of qualifying when we get to August.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� with files from Tracy Holmes

editorial@peacearchnews.com
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