Locals in the Games

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Greg Ovenden is happy not to have to travel to take part in the BC Winter Games.

The Special Olympics basketball player is competing in his hometown.

Ovenden, of Penticton, is one of many South Okanagan athletes participating in the Games.

"I love it, because it's our hometown, and our relatives and family are able to come and watch," he said, Friday, as competition kicked off at venues throughout the city.

Ovenden is joined by Tiffany Bjorndal, who is in her first year of playing Special Olympics basketball.

"It's great having it here," she said. "And I am looking forward to just having fun and maybe to win."

Other Penticton athletes are: Caleb Millard, judo, Marcus Bartier, karate, Steven Taylor, karate, Sophie Brydon, netball, and Chloe Brydon, netball.

Penticton is also well represented on the ski slopes. Athletes include Peter De La Mothe, in skiing, alpine, Aubree Lawlor, in skiing, alpine, Noa Rogers, skiing, alpine, Fred Albrechtson, skiing, cross country, Andrew Carlow, skiing, freestyle, Alex Collyer, skiing, freestyle, Chad Collyer, skiing, freestyle and Liam Collyer, skiing, freestyle.

Other locals are Alexander Henderson, skiing, freestyle, Brayden Kuroda, skiing, freestyle, and Anna Spence, skiing, freestyle.

From Summerland, there is Natalie Benoit, biathlon, Caitlyn Riddle, Karate, Jacob Slizek, karate, and Heming Sola, skiing, alpine.

Karate athlete Matthew Broder is from Okanagan Falls, while Shawn Hiibner, archery, and Delaney Wise, archery, are from Oliver.

Maxwell Todd, skiing, freestyle, is from Keremeos.

Meanwhile, Peter Fassbender, minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, was in town Friday to thank the Games hosts and announce the launch of a new online toolkit, providing communities with information on how to host events of all sizes.

The resource will include tools to assist sport, art and cultural event organizers across the province.

Games president Bill Bidlake and Kelly Mann, BC Games Society president and CEO, along with Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit also spoke at the Games luncheon, Friday.