University’s facilities are the cherry in Kamloops’ tournament capital plan

The marketing tagline for Kamloops 2011 Western Canada Summer Games says,  “The Games begin with you.”

The reality is, the group’s success in attracting the games began with TRU.

Western Summer Games Society president Henry Pejril recalls touring the WCSG officials around the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC), McArthur Island and some of the dozens of other sporting venues that were touted in Kamloops’ bid for the 2011 games.

“When the committee saw TRU’s Residence and Conference Centre and envisioned it as the Athlete’s Village, those facilities made up their mind.

“Kamloops was on the final short list but insiders were pretty sure the Games were going to Prince George. Once the bid committee saw the complete suite of facilities here, Kamloops got the Games,” Pejril said of the whirlwind tours of game facilities in May 2006.

One year from now, from Aug. 5 to 14, two groups each of nearly 1,100 young athletes from the four Western provinces and the three Northern territories will be housed in the Thompson Rivers University Residence and Conference Centre and queuing for their meals in the Grand Hall at the Campus Activity Centre (CAC).

Gerard Hayes is the director of Ancillary Services at Thompson Rivers University and has volunteered to be the director of the Athletes’ Village for the games.

“Being the Athlete’s Village for these games makes great sense for our facilities,” Hayes said. “We can make use of space that is usually empty over the summer and have very high caliber staff ensuring quality accommodation and food for these young athletes.”

The residences will provide a caliber of accommodation significantly higher than a foam mattress on the floor of an elementary school at a much lower cost. Pejril estimates that nearly 60 per cent of all the games’ venues will be within walking distance of the Athlete’s Village at TRU, minimizing the need for buses. The athletes will be able get up and walk over to the CAC for breakfast, then walk to their competition at the TCC.

“We have a fantastic opportunity to showcase our facility and campus during the 2011 Summer Games, but more than that we have an opportunity to provide these young athletes and their families with a games experience that will have them talking about Kamloops for years,” Hayes said. “Combining the Tournament Capital Centre with TRU Residence and Conference Centre does make Kamloops Canada’s Tournament Capital.”

Pejril echoes Hayes commitment saying, “We will be setting the bar for Western Canada Summer games. Whatever people see and experience here for 2011 is equivalent to what they can expect for a Canada Games, an event we’d like to see come back to Kamloops.”

Besides meals and accommodation, TRU will be the centre for the Chef d’ Mission and host some evening medal ceremonies and social activities for adults and athletes alike.

The 585-bed residence, opened by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell in November 2006, incorporates barrier-free suites and several multi-use communal spaces, with three types of suite configurations available, with a total of 576 student beds, eight hotel suite beds, and one resident manager’s bed. For the Games an additional single cot will be brought into each student room, doubling the residence’s capacity. There will be a full bathroom for each pair of athletes. As well, each pair of athletes will have a limited kitchen facility (microwave, toaster, etc., no stove) — not to mention some of the best views of the city.