Photo: Contributed

Poor air quality has cancelled a major youth soccer tournament which was set to take place in Penticton this weekend.

The Peach City Classic, which would've included 45 teams from around B.C. and Alberta, was forced to cancel last minute on Thursday due to wildfire smoke.

"When we let (teams) know, they weren't happy but they understood the situation," Yann Calmets said, head coach for the Pinnacles FC in Penticton.

Calmets referenced the air quality safety guidelines outlined by BC Soccer, which recommends games be postponed or rescheduled when the air quality is at a rating of seven or higher.

The tournament would've included male and female teams between the ages of 10 and 18, playing at the fields at Kings Park and Penticton Secondary School. It's one of the two largest tournaments the local soccer association hosts annually, the other being on Easter weekend. 

Apart from the games, Calmets said it's disappointing to cancel because the event is typically good for tourism in Penticton, with dozens of out-of-town teams visiting.

He said of concern now is some hotels in the city are refusing to refund families that had to cancel bookings due to the tournament being called off.

"A few of them were really good to us and understood and refunded... But the air quality situation was not important for a few hotels and the money is more important," Calmets said, adding he is continuing to pursue refunds in those situations. 

While the Peach City Classic is up in smoke this year, the Super League Triathlon is going ahead as planned this weekend in Penticton. Organizers said the short-course triathlon fits within the amount of exertion time allowed relative to the air quality.