Nova Scotia Athletes and Coaches get the Official Send-Off to Beijing
Twelve Nova Scotian athletes representing the province in the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games received an official send-off today, July 22.
The event, held at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, honoured the athletes and coaches who will represent the province in seven different sports.
The Beijing Olympic Games will take place from Aug. 8 to 21, while the Paralympic Games will be hosted from Sept. 15 to 28.
"On behalf of all Nova Scotians, I would like to congratulate the athletes who have qualified for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Barry Barnett, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "Competing at the Olympics and Paralympics is an amazing honour and an outstanding achievement, not to mention an incredible opportunity to compete against the very best athletes in the world."
"We have a record number of Nova Scotians competing at the Games in Beijing," said Ken Bagnell, president of the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic. "Most encouraging is that the majority of these athletes have been able to base their training in our province. This gives the added value of many developing athletes in our province to have a chance to train with these Olympians and Paralympians on a daily basis."
Nova Scotia athletes attending the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games include:
- Adrienne Power, East Jeddore - athletics
- Eric Gillis, Antigonish - athletics
- Andrew Russell, Dartmouth - canoe/kayak
- Karen Furneaux, Waverely - canoe/kayak
- David Kikuchi, Fall River - gymnastics
- Tracy Cameron, Shubenacadie - rowing
- Lisa Ross, Lunenburg - sailing
- Oliver Bone, Halifax - sailing
- Paul Tingley, Halifax - sailing, Paralympics
- Chelsey Gotell, Antigonish - swimming, Paralympics
- Devin Gotell, Antigonish - swimming, Paralympics
- Ian Kent, Eastern Passage - table tennis, Paralympics
Coaches attending the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games include:
- Csom Latorovszki, Waverley - canoe/kayak
- Tak Kikuchi, Fall River - gymnastics
- Craig Guthrie, Halifax - sailing, Paralympics
- Brian Todd, Glen Haven - sailing, Paralympics
- John McPherson, Eastern Passage - table tennis, Paralympics