TEAM SASKATCHEWAN BOUND FOR 2003 JEUX DU CANADA GAMES

Enthusiasm was in the air today as Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joanne Crofford, Saskatchewan Games Council Chair Judy Weenk and SaskSport Inc. President Spencer Graham officially introduced Team Saskatchewan 2003.

Team Saskatchewan 2003 will participate in the 19th Jeux du Canada Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, New Brunswick, February 22nd to March 8th, 2003. The team consists of 317 athletes and coaches, 20 mission staff and four performing artists.

"I am honoured to introduce the team that will represent this great province while they compete with the best of the best in Canada," Crofford said. "Team Saskatchewan will be our ambassadors at the 2003 Jeux du Canada Games. I know they will represent our province with pride and honour. Saskatchewan is very proud of their dedication to excellence and of all they have accomplished."

Weenk spoke to the discipline required for athletes to reach this stage of competition. "All of the Saskatchewan athletes, coaches and managers deserve to be competing at these Games as they have dedicated countless hours of training and intense competition," Weenk said. "I know Team Saskatchewan 2003 will showcase the best this province has to offer, and they will make every one of us proud."

The Jeux du Canada Games program represents a federal/provincial/territorial partnership that results in biennial national multi-sport games alternating between summer and winter.

"The purpose of the games is to enhance sport development in Canada and create legacies in the host communities," Graham said. "The games also showcase the talents and abilities of Canada's best developmental high performance athletes from each province and territory."

Athletes will be competing in 21 different sports throughout the two-week national event. Team Saskatchewan results will be updated daily on the Team Saskatchewan Web site at www.gov.sk.ca/teamsask. Results can also be accessed via Culture, Youth and Recreation's Web site at www.cyr.gov.sk.ca. The official 2003 Jeux du Canada Games Web site is located at www.2003ca nadagames.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Sandhya Padbanabh Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967