Cowichan gears up for the games

The 2008 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) set for Cowichan, B.C. are still eight months away, but organizers are confident all preparations are running smoothly at this point.
"Over the last two years we have been operating as a host society," said Rick Brant, chief executive officer for the games. "Everything is in place."
Essential contracts to feed, house and transport games' participants have already been awarded. Now officials are just waiting to see exactly how many competitors 2008 NAIG, which will be held Aug. 3 to 10, will attract. Estimates are that there will be about 5,000 junior sport participants. This number includes athletes aged 13 to19 as well as their coaches and support staff. And about 1,000 senior participants, aged 20 and over, are also expected to compete. NAIG officials can start making more concrete plans by the end of December.
"The key period we're entering is the registration deadline," Brant said.
A total of 29 teams (13 Canadian and 16 American) are eligible to compete in Cowichan.
Participating squads have until Dec. 31 to inform NAIG officials of exactly how many participants-that includes athletes, coaches and support staff-will be attending the games. NAIG officials don't need to know the names of those who will compete next year, but they will need to know how many athletes per sport will take part as well as the athletes' age category and gender.
"That's really the key focus for us right now," Brant said. "That will set the numbers for us."
And it will assist organizers in informing the recipients of the already awarded contracts of just exactly what to expect.
"The food, accommodations and transportation are all driven by the registration numbers," he said.
A company has been hired to feed all of the junior participants twice a day. An exact number of competitors will determine just how many meals must be prepared.
As for accommodations, the majority of NAIG participants will be staying in one of 22 schools scattered throughout the district. NAIG officials have already purchased 2,000 bunk beds and mattresses from a company in China. These beds, which arrived two months ago and are now in a storage facility, will be placed in classrooms in the various schools where the NAIG entrants will sleep.
The bunk beds won't be assembled, however, until late July when NAIG officials take over the schools to prepare for the games.
As for transportation, there will be plenty of bus drivers who will be kept busy. The games will feature 52 different venues, and drivers will be responsible for getting the participants to and from their competition sites as well as the athletes' centre, where they will be fed.
The athletes' centre will also serve as a facility where participants can do other things such as enjoy some recreational activities or hook up to some Internet access.
Following the registration deadline, NAIG officials can then turn their thoughts to welcoming some of the games' key representatives. All 29 of the chef de mission (team leaders) are expected to be in Duncan, B.C. from Jan. 23 to 25.There NAIG officials will deliver the overview of the entire games' programs.
Another item that will need to be taken care of early in the New Year will be the selection of performing and musical groups for the games. Applications have already been sent out to various Aboriginal performers throughout North America.
"We will be making our decisions (on who will be performing) in February or March," Brant said.
Unlike some other multi-sport competitions, which scramble to complete some of their facilities, the 2008 NAIG already has all of its venue sites in place. Though there will be no mad construction dashes to get a competition facility in place, there could still be one venue change.
"There are no capital projects directly involved with the games," Brant said. But there is a new swimming pool being built in Cowichan; its projected completion date is this coming July. If it is indeed completed in time, Brant said the games will utilize that facility for its swimming competitions. And if there are any construction delays, then NAIG officials will simply make use of an existing pool, adjacent to the one being built, for its swim events.
So far about 300 volunteers have registered to help out with the games. Organizers are eventually hoping to secure 3,000 volunteers.
Brant is confident sufficient individuals will step up to lend a hand. At this point he's not worried that those individuals have yet to indicate they'll be helping out since there wouldn't be anything for them to do right now.
"The majority of those (volunteers we need) are really focussed at games' time," he said.