THUNDER BAY — While garnering more popularity, a pickleball tournament is taking place this weekend to help support five local athletes who will be heading to Calgary for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games later this year.
Playfully dubbed as a fun-raiser, the event doesn't require participants to have any pickleball experience whatsoever, said the tournament organizer, Nancy McKercher.
"[The Moose Lodge] has generously donated the facility. And we're hoping to get approximately 100 participants."
McKercher is looking to raise $1,000 to help cover registration costs for the five athletes going to Calgary in February.
Darren Smiley is the president of the Moose Lodge as well as an avid pickleballer. He said the sport has had a recent uptick in popularity; registration at the lodge has tripled.
"We've actually closed our registration at the moment," Smiley said.
"We have a waiting list. We're going to open it again now that we have more court time."
Rob Neff is the community coordinator for Special Olympics Thunder Bay.
He says it can get costly sending athletes to games across the country.
"We can spend $15 to $20,000 sending a team to a single tournament in southern Ontario.
"I think another aspect of a tournament like this is it really helps to connect the Special Olympics with the community at large. I think it's an important driver and the spirit of inclusion is in the community as well."
The tournament is on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Moose Lodge at 434 Fort William Road. The entry deadline is January 13 at noon.
Those interested can register here.
