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By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com
Those looking for a family-bonding experience this summer have to look no further than the Southern Alberta Summer Games which the Taber/M.D. of Taber region is hosting July 4-7.
The 2018 Games will be the 49th anniversary of the event, and the fifth time Taber has played host to the event.
“To me, the Summer Games is one of those things southern Alberta watches for and makes part of their vacation. It is awesome for Taber to showcase what we have and throughout the M.D. People camp, they stay in our hotels and not only do they take part in the Games, but they partake in all our recreational facilities, they eat in our restaurants and they shop,” said Tamara Miyanaga, chairperson for the 2018 Southern Alberta Summer Games. “The neat thing about the Summer Games is it becomes multi-generational. You have kids right through to grandparents who are taking part in events together. You typically see that in our cycling, athletics, our 3k/5k/10k races. That really epitomizes the get fit, and spend time together.”
Pickleball and motocross will be a couple of new events the Taber region will feature which were not on the slate the last time the area hosted the Games.
“It brings another component of people to our area, and we can showcase our fantastic facilities like that track that we have,” said Miyanaga of the motocross track that is on Highway 864 going north, past the M.D. Park, airport and shooting range.
Apart from the hundreds upon hundreds of athletes that make their way to the Games, there are also the over 300 volunteers who help run the Southern Alberta Summer Games.
“Next to our Cornfest, the Southern Alberta Summer Game is our biggest draw. People like Taber for its central location, plus we have a lot of services that give ease of camping, staying in hotels, driving back and forth. Plus we have fantastic facilities for people to enjoy with their recreation,” said Miyanaga.
While the Games feature its share of sporting events for people to enjoy, there are cultural events like photography, free swims, movie in the park, library events, gymnastics club use, cribbage etc.
“We will use everything that we have, so that all levels of interest and abilities can participate,” said Miyanaga.
If you would like to know more about the Southern Alberta Summer Games or would like to register, you can log onto http://www.southernalbertasummergames.com.
The Games website will show all the events and activities available for people to participate in.
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