Prince George will host the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games in seven months, marking the third time the Games have been held here.
Events such as basketball, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, 10-pin bowling, and track and field will take place from July 10-13.
Prince George will see 1,200 competitors and their trainers, families, friends and supporters coming to the city.
With such a large crowd expected there is a lot of preparation and planning in the months ahead. A group of dedicated and experienced volunteers and sponsors has stepped up to form both the SOBC organizing committee and the SOBC games sponsorship program.
“It's going to take a lot of people to make the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games possible,” said public relations director Shirley Bond at a press conference Tuesday. “It also is going to take a lot of support from sponsors and donors. But all of us know what an amazing community that we live in. And the support is building already here, starting with local volunteers who have stepped up in key planning roles.”
So far some of this support comes from sponsors including, Canadian Tire Prince George, (which hosted the press conference), the City of Prince George, the Government of British Columbia, the Canucks for Kids Fund, Canfor, Tourism Prince George and Four Rivers Co-op.
The members of the volunteer committee seemed excited and passionate about the games and the work that needs to be done, and many are looking forward to putting Prince George on the map, said Bond.
“Prince George is known to be an exceptionally good host and we've hosted some of the largest events in Canada,” she said. “This is an opportunity to showcase individuals who have intellectual disabilities and the abilities that they have. It is about showing what an inclusive community we have and it is incredibly inspiring. I've been involved in the Games before and it is a very special experience to support these athletes, to cheer them on and to showcase the abilities that they have.”
However, there is still a great need for volunteers and additional sponsors as Bond notes that there is still a lot of work to do in the next seven months.
“We're gonna need more than 1,000 volunteers to participate… There are opportunities to be involved with meal prep and all of the other things that it takes to operate these games,” she said. “I know that it'll be an experience people will never forget. It's an opportunity to be inspired to get involved. One thing I know for sure is that Prince George delivers when we host these kinds of events. There will be no exception here, but I want to encourage people to think about spending some time working with us as we host the BC Special Olympics.”
To volunteer, visit www.sobcgames.ca.
The Special Olympics give athletes the opportunity to be ambitious, driven and to excel at something that they are passionate about, as illustrated by Prince George local and nationally ranked Special Olympics athlete and silver medalist Adam Spokes.
“I aim not only to be a better person, but to make others better too,” he said. “To inspire and encourage those who may not have the encouragement they got when they were younger, but now we're saying they could achieve something. It may not be anything great, but they can achieve something. It boils down to something simple. The wish is for people to not have to stare at the abyss, not see the darkness, and be able to have something to look forward to. You see it all the time with people with disabilities, who stay home, who don’t come out. But with the Special Olympics, we want to show them a little bit of lightness. We inspire them to say, ‘I can achieve something.’”
Spokes is also a part of the athletic input council and is looking forward to the competition.
“It's something different,” he said. “You practice every day and every week and in these kinds of games, you prove it. You prove that all that hard work is worth it and all those sacrifices you made, all the hard work you did, all the sore muscles, in the end, it was worth it because you're on your own big stage.”
Top performers competing in Prince George will see themselves on an even bigger stage, as they will qualify for spots on Team BC for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat. This in turn is the qualifier for the 2026 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Santiago, Chile.
Where it all happens
The Opening Ceremony will take place at the CN Centre on Thursday, July 10, following the arrival of the teams and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Competitions happen July 11 and 12. The Games Event Hub will be located at the Canada Games Outdoor Plaza, 545 Quebec St., providing a central space for participants and fans.
The competitions will be held at several venues, with 10-pin bowling at Strike Zone Bowling and Mini Golf Centre, athletics at Masich Place Stadium, and basketball at Duchess Park Secondary School.
Bocce and soccer events will take place at Rotary Field, while golfers will tee off at Aspen Grove Golf Course.
The Prince George Civic Centre will also host powerlifting and rhythmic gymnastics events.
Softball will be played at Freeman Park and swimming events will take place at the Prince George Aquatic Centre.
The closing ceremony, which is for athletes only and not open to the public, is on July 12.
July 13 sees the athletes departing, followed by a volunteer appreciation fair at Canada Games Plaza.
For more information visit www.sobcgames.ca
