SARA cancels 2023 Southern Alberta Summer Games

By Lethbridge Herald on May 4, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Southern Alberta Recreation Association (SARA) has officially cancelled the Southern Alberta Summer Games for 2023.

SARA made their decision based on related impacts to the  COVID-19 pandemic and how those placed a difficulty on local regions and communities.

As a result of, a host community was not able to be secured for the 2023 Games.

“It’s been kind of a tough few years for all of us,” said Kara Brake, SARA chair.

“All of our communities and regions really appreciate having these Games and understanding the importance of having these grass root games for everybody … It’s been tough on us and it’s disappointing but it’s a reality. These Games are usually planned one-and-a-half to two years out sometimes and so when we look at communities trying  to find sponsorships and volunteers, it’s been difficult over the last year.”

Brake emphasized that it was not just COVID that forced the cancellation of this year’s Games.

“It’s not just COVID,” she said.

“A lot of it stems from COVID and that’s kind of what  we stated in the press release there.  It’s obviously, people might look at that and say  well there’s no restrictions this year, why aren’t you doing them?  But again we don’t start planning now for Games in 2023. We would’ve started planning a year and a half ago. So that would have been really (the) beginning of 2022. And when you’re  looking to try and host the games of this calibre, it’s difficult to find sponsors, it’s difficult to find volunteers (and) there’s been a huge shift of priorities in people’s schedules.”

SARA is working with a community who  are planning to host the 2024 Games.

“So we’re really looking forward to giving the host community our full support (and) giving them the time to really plan a Games,” said Brake.

“And then coming out in 2024 with a huge bang, and we’re really excited to get these Games back and going next year.”

The 2024 host community announcement is expected to be made in the following months.

“We’re disappointed,” said Susan Eymann, Lethbridge Sport Council executive director.

“But understand why there wasn’t a community that wanted to host it this summer. And we’re excited waiting to hear who will host it in 2024. It’s been such a great grass roots family event. So people are missing it.”

The last SASG was held in Pincher Creek in 2019  for the event’s  50th anniversary.

SARA has released a letter for those interested regions and communities that would like to host the Games in 2025 and 2026.

SARA are  looking for board members.