By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Lethbridge City Council gives green light for 2020 Alberta Summer Games bid

Jan 9, 2018 | 12:14 PM

LETHBRIDGE – City Council is lending its support to the Lethbridge Sport Council’s bid for the 2020 Alberta Summer Games.

In a presentation Monday, Sport Council President Susan Eymann, along with Alberta Sport Development Centre-Southwest’s Josh Hoetmer asked for $250,000 from the Major Community Grant Fund, along with a letter of intent to host the games. The request included $100,000 for in-kind support, along with $150,000 in cash.

Eymann said she was pleased City Council voted unanimously in favour of it.

“Having the 2020 Summer Games in Lethbridge is great. It’s not just wonderful for the athletes to give them motivation of competing at a games and competing in Lethbridge, but it’s also great to help strengthen the sport organizations and their programming in Lethbridge.”

The Sport Council also mentioned that any surplus made from the games, would be put into a fund to support the ongoing development of youth not-for-profit sport programs in the community. During the last summer games in Lethbridge in 2012, there was a $125,000 surplus.

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However, during the debate period, Councillor Jeff Carlson proposed an amendment that any surplus from the games, up to $125,000 be returned to the Major Community Events Grant Fund.

Anything over that amount, could be used for Alberta Summer Games legacy projects.

Council has already committed three-quarters of the funds from the 2019-2022 Major Community Events Grant Budget, pending the outcome of decisions to host the U Sport Men’s University Hockey Championships in 2019 and 2020, and the 2019 Ford World Men’s Curling Championships.

The amendment was voted on and passed by a margin of 5-1, with Councillor Rob Miyashiro voting against it.

But Eymann says she understands the reasons for the amendment.

“I can certainly see where the city is coming from to help replenish the Major Community Events Grant. That is what allows organizations to bid for sport events.”

She goes on to explain that a reserve created after the last Alberta Summer Games in Lethbridge will help local sports organizations get ready for the next summer games in two years.

While Lethbridge has been asked to host the 2020 games, Eymann says there is a process that needs to be followed, and the Sport Council should know by early March whether their bid has been successful.