THUNDER BAY – The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games held in Thunder Bay in February wrapped up with full hearts and pocketbooks, the Games Organizing Committee says.
The games not only drew thousands to the city to celebrate inclusion and excellence in sport, they injected an estimated $6 million-plus into the local economy, and concluded with a surplus of more than $100,000, according to the committee’s final report.
Organizers presented an executive summary of that report to city council on Monday, to unanimous praise and a round of applause from councillors.
The games raised around $2 million in revenue, with more than three quarters of that total coming through sponsorships. That exceeded expenses by over $115,000.
As per the games agreement, 30 per cent of the surplus will go to Special Olympics Canada, with the remaining $82,000 as a legacy to the Thunder Bay Special Olympics Chapter.
Much of the economic impact from the games came from hotel stays and meals for the roughly 2,000 people drawn to the city for the games, including 845 athletes and around 1,200 coaches, mission staff, officials, and family and friends in attendance.
Mayor Bill Mauro took pains to recognize the efforts of more than 1,000 volunteers who supported the event, singling out chair Barry Streib for his years of work to bring the event to the city.
“Thunder Bay has a tremendous reputation when it comes to hosting provincial and federal events, but this one I think was different – without a doubt, it touched the hearts and souls of the community.”
The games had brought positive energy and moments of joy to a community where negative topics sometimes dominate the conversation, said Coun. Peng You, adding he was grateful the city had been able to pull it off only a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns in the city.
The organizing committee’s full 122-page report will later be presented to Special Olympics Canada.
