File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Sadie Hunter

In The Loop

HUNTER: Tournament Capital means more than sports

Jan 24, 2023 | 10:14 AM

WE WEREN’T A HUGE SPORTS-CENTRIC FAMILY but most of us played a team sport at some point. I played soccer and volleyball, my sister and I both played softball, one of my brothers played hockey, and at one point my parents played beer-league slo-pitch. I consider this to be the average sport experience for most kids, especially those from income-limited families.

When I moved to Kamloops, the idea of a city branding itself solely around sports and tournament hosting seemed a bit strange – but I put it down to every community having their own claim to fame. I mean, my previous location is the self-described chainsaw sculpture carving capital of the world (a claim it fights a few other small towns for), so a tournament capital wasn’t that weird!

What it took me much longer to see and understand was the more nuanced impact of hosting team sports and tournaments and the ripple effect it has on the community. The recent welcoming home of 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship Team Canada gold-medal winners Caedan Bankier and Logan Stankoven is a recent example of this. The excitement in the community around their success is palpable among both hockey and non-hockey fans.

At any given Kamloops Blazers or TRU WolfPack game you’ll see people from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences and interests united for the common purpose of supporting sport and their community. As a member of the crowd, there’s a collective sharing of energy and emotion with cheers and jeers following the tides of play.

Within this intangible is the uplifting sense that comes with hope and the electric excitement stirred by possibility.

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I think this energy is what attracts me to supporting other events, sporting or otherwise, as a volunteer. I enjoy observing, but I also enjoy getting to know other volunteers behind the scenes, participants and being part of something meaningful. This is the ripple effect being a tournament capital brings to Kamloops – the opportunity to be part of an event or experience which brings much-needed positivity and uplift to our community.

You don’t need to be a sports fan to volunteer. I think the only requirement is wanting to support our community, those in our community who work for months to bring these events to life, and those who have worked hard to be able to participate and compete in them. I have immense respect for everyone who plays a role in sport and in sporting events.

Don’t believe me? I challenge you to volunteer for one of these upcoming events and see for yourself:

● BC Special Olympics, February 2-4 2023. Volunteers are still needed and volunteer orientation is on January 31st so don’t wait to sign up!

● 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb. 17-26 2023. Online applications for volunteering is now closed but anyone interested is encouraged to contact amanda.mackenzie@curling.ca.

● 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia from May 25-June 4, 2023.

I hope to see you there!

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.