The B.C. government announced Thursday that 2018 is the year of the BC Games, marking the sporting eventB次元官网网址檚 40th anniversary.

B次元官网网址淭he GamesB次元官网网址� athletes, coaches and volunteers are role models, not only for excellence, but for the value of contributing to communities and our province,B次元官网网址� said Tourism Minister Lisa Beare in a news release.

The first BC Games, a summer Games, took place in Penticton in 1978, and over the past four decades, has been held in 38 communities, with more than 350,000 participants and volunteers.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 Winter Games are set for Feb. 22 to 25 in Kamloops. (Black Press is a sponsor of the event.) ItB次元官网网址檚 the cityB次元官网网址檚 third time hosting, since the inaugural Winter Games there in 1979.

Several BC Games competitors have gone on to represent Canada in the Olympics and on other national and international stages.

Fourteen alumni, such as Kamloops speed skater Josie Morrison, Kelowna skier Kelsey Serwa, and Summerland bobsledder Justin Kripps, will represent Team Canada in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games this month.

B次元官网网址淲hat athletes learn are lifelong skills,B次元官网网址� said Niki Remesz, president of the 2018 Kamloops event. B次元官网网址淓ven if they do not continue to compete for the sport in the Winter Games, they (will) continue to develop regardless.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to see a full circle of how the community and sport capacity has advanced,B次元官网网址� Remesz added. B次元官网网址淏eing the tournament capital of Canada, (Kamloops) continues to add to its infrastructure and community engagement.B次元官网网址�

The BC Winter Games is projected to bring in roughly $1.6 million to benefit the Kamloops economy.