One Year Countdown Begins – Feel the Energy

After more than two years of planning and preparation, the City of Portage la Prairie is gearing up to “Feel the Energy” of the 2010 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games The Portage la Prairie Host Society kicked off the one-year countdown to one of the biggest sporting events on the Manitoba calendar at a luncheon at Canad Inns Portage on March 5. The Host Society accepted the first of a number of Friends of the Games sponsor donations as well as revealing the Games logo and slogan for the first time.

Friends of the Games sponsors were represented by the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, which raised $5,000 for the Games during the Central Region Induction Dinner last April. Calm Air, a Platinum sponsor, also presented a $5,000 contribution, half of its total commitment of $10,000 to the Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games. The Host Society also announced that E.F. Moon Construction has come on board as a Platinum sponsor with a contribution of $10,000. Host Society Co-Chair Jim Malenchak, on behalf of the Malenchak family, made a personal contribution of $500 and the Portage Badminton Club presented the Host Society with a cheque for $250.

“With the one year countdown and our fundraising campaign underway, more and more local businesses and individuals will jump on board as Friends of the Games,” said Malenchak. “We expect to be making many more of these kinds of announcements that recognize the important contributions of the business community that is vital to us achieving our revenue targets and to the operation of the Games.”

The Host Society won the right to hold the Games in Portage in March 2007 on the theme “Feel the Energy”. Since then, the Host Society has attracted commitments from hundreds of volunteers with years of experience as Portage has successfully hosted top calibre provincial, national and international events, including the Director’s Cup, World Junior Hockey, Canadian Senior Curling Championships, the Manitoba Society of Seniors 55-Plus Games and the Canada Senior Games.

“The Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games will undoubtedly join these events in the pantheon of historic sporting moments in Portage la Prairie’s rich history,” said Host Society co-chair Ferdi Nelissen. “It’s not easy to sell people on a vision, but now that the Games are a reality, we will be seeing a huge growth in our volunteer base.”

From March 7 to 13, 2010, the Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games will bring more than 1,600 participants to Portage to take part in Manitoba’s largest multi-sport program. The athletes will compete in 12 events: badminton, five-pin bowling, figure skating, gymnastics, male and female hockey, male and female volleyball, cross-country skiing, curling, ringette and Special Olympics bowling. Each of the athletes will have earned their spot in the Games by advancing from a regional qualifier, ensuring an outstanding level of competition in every event.

Roy Shields, Central Region Induction Dinner Chair and Host Society Volunteer accepts the cheque from Rick Brownlee, Sport Manitoba's Sport Heritage Manager.

Host Society Co-Chairs Jim Malenchak and Ferdi Nelissen and Mark Moon representing Platinum Sponsor E.F. Moon Construction of Portage la Prairie.

Host Society Co-Chair Jim Malenchak and John Freiss representing Platinum Sponsor Calm Air.