Games planning going full ahead

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The Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta), now based out of the recreation center at the Enoch First Nation, is scurrying about with a full slate of programs for 1997.

Executive director Ted Hodgeson says they are extremely busy preparing for the 1997 North American Indigenous Games in Victoria.

"This year," he said, "We'll be sending a total of 776 athletes and support staff."

Team Alberta will not include lacrosse, nor juvenile and junior soccer this time around, due to registration limits and finances. Over the next three months, various Alberta Native communities will host qualifying competitions to determine just who will compete at the games.

A few events had to change dates and locations for climatic reasons. For this reason, athletes and coaches are encouraged to contact the council at 470-3700 regarding qualifying competition dates and sites.

Although the council has developed several proposals for funding, it stresses the need and importance for communities to seek the money required to sponsor their own athletes. This year, explained Hodgeson, is more costly than that of the past three rounds of thee games. For example, individual athlete registration has increased from $30 to $150. As well, communities will have to cover travel costs, plus a $125 per athlete Team Alberta fee for track suits, insurance, etc. In the end, it will cost each athlete no less than $325 to participate.

The sport council will be holding its second-annual golf tournament on June 21, once again at Enoch's Indian Lakes course.

Plans are also under way for the second round of inductions to the Alberta Indigenous Sport Hall of Fame. Nomination forms are available through the council, which has set Oct. 16 to 18 as the dates for its fall conference on "Achieving Well-Being Through Recreation and Sports," which was a huge success last fall.

Based on the potential success of fund-raising, the council hopes to expand its two staff positions to four or five, with one of those being a full-time chef de mission for the Victoria games.