Although still over a year-and-a-half away, the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games had a formal reveal yesterday at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex. 

The Games, to be hosted in Swift Current and surrounding area from August 9-18, 2019, will see approximately 1700 athletes from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon competing in 16 sports over the 10-day event.

"We are excited and we've been waiting for this day, because really we've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and it's our opportunity to share with Swift Current and the southwest really that this is coming," Summer Games Board co-chair Mark Benesh said. "And, we have opportunity for a lot of people to become involved - we're really excited for the city and area."

Planning for the housing and nutrition of these athletes and coaches is well underway, with both Swift Current Comprehensive High School and Irwin School set to be converted into dormitories once the 2018-19 school year is complete.

Also underway is the prep of facilities for all sports - some including renovations to existing structures in the near future, as is the case with the tennis courts in Riverside Park.

While prep continues, the Summer Games Board was pleased to announce that an estimated $2 million is the forecast economic impact of the event for Swift Current and the surrounding area.

A large part of successfully running an event of this magnitude will be for the volunteer bug to hit the southwest once again, as around 2000 volunteers will be needed.

"The people - it's their passion for their community, that spirit of pulling together and being proud of where they come from, and wanting to share that with the visitors that come," said Denise Barbie, Games Manager, on the key to these events.

"Every Games that I've been a part of, the thing that really stands out is not the difficulties with logistics, it's the people that you meet, and the people that you get to interact with - it's like a family."

However, a formal call for volunteers will be sent out in the fall of 2018, approximately around the one-year mark until the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games kicks off.

One individual looking to volunteer already is Aleah Nickel, a grade 11 student at Swift Current Comp, who won a silver medal in wrestling at the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

She notes the importance of these events for an athlete's growth.

"It's a stepping stone," Nickel said. "Each Games it slightly grows and grows - the atmosphere of it gets larger - so it really helps you to get more comfortable, and help the nerves when you go to bigger events."

For more information, as well as to view where all venues for events will be located, the Summer Games website is now live.