Set to be held February 25 to 28, the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games will include the debut of the Special Olympics figure skating event, and SOBC basketball players will also compete in their own division for just the second time at BC Games.
We’re looking forward to cheering on the SOBC basketball players and coaches who will hit the court in Penticton:
Click here to meet the SOBC figure skaters competing at the Games in Penticton.
| Region 2 | ||
| Aaron Dixon | Kelowna | Coaches |
| Braeden Powley | Kelowna | Derek Powley |
| Erin Murphy | Vernon | Patrick Wilson |
| Ethan Sun | Kelowna | Mona Hazell |
| Gary Pollen | Vernon | |
| Greg Ovenden | Penticton | |
| Hunter Ashby | Vernon | |
| Levi Ryan Packard | Kelowna | |
| Robert Varcoe | Kelowna | |
| Tiffaney Bjorndal | Penticton | |
| Region 3 | ||
| Brad Funk | Abbotsford | Coaches |
| Christian Burton | Langley | Bruce Shelvey |
| Christopher Lakusta | Langley | Nicole Grainger |
| Derek Santema | Abbotsford | |
| Inderpal Gill | Abbotsford | |
| Jacob Fettes | Langley | |
| Kyle Litfin | Langley | |
| Mike Palitti | Abbotsford | |
| Ryerson Shelvey | Langley | |
| Sabrina McLean | Abbotsford | |
| Region 4 | ||
| Andrew Wiseman | Coquitlam | Coaches |
| April Armstrong | Burnaby | Brendon Schmidt |
| Austin McPherson-Maundrell | Surrey | Jaskirat Aujla |
| Ben Felling | Coquitlam | Peter de Marchi |
| Cody Smith | Surrey | |
| Joey Sock | Surrey | |
| Kyle McLaughlin | Coquitlam | |
| Mary Armstrong | Burnaby | |
| Scott Laroue | Surrey | |
| Truman Nguyen | Coquitlam | |
| Region 5 | ||
| Andrew Weale | Vancouver | Coaches |
| DJ Gilbert | North Shore | Jimmy Peterson |
| Erol Gunenc | North Shore | Luke Harris |
| Joshua Moon | North Shore | Zak Klein |
| Kendrick Lim | North Shore | |
| Nick Kellof | North Shore | |
| Pierce Burns | North Shore | |
| Sangeon Yoo | North Shore | |
| Steve Schoeller | North Shore | |
| Tyrone Liebenberg | North Shore | |
| Region 6 | ||
| Adam Irwin-Gunn | Victoria | Coaches |
| Andrew Caulfield | Victoria | Kym Sywak |
| Bonnie Jean Shade | Campbell River | Melanie Rodway |
| Dave Marsters | Campbell River | Violet Shade |
| Denise Siggs | Campbell River | |
| Jesse Shade | Campbell River | |
| Meliah Motchman | Victoria | |
| Myles Kitson | Victoria | |
| Nick Benner | Campbell River | |
| Tristan Dunn | Nanaimo | |
| Region 8 | ||
| Brock Terlesky | Quesnel | Coaches |
| Christopher Zorn | Prince George | David Robson |
| Clayton Bawder | Quesnel | Lorne Dunn |
| Clayton Julliette | Prince George | Suni Dunn |
| David Dunn | Prince George | |
| Greg Cole | Prince George | |
| Gwang Lee | Prince George | |
| Jerman Severeid | Quesnel | |
| Marinka Van Hage | Prince George | |
| Riley Foster | Quesnel |
The Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games are expected to have as many as 2,082 participants, including 1,495 athletes, 361 coaches, and 226 officials. These will be the 28th BC Winter Games and the fourth time Penticton has hosted the BC Games.
The BC Winter Games provide a competitive multi-sport environment that supports the development of athletes, coaches, and officials as they move on to higher levels of competition. BC Games alumni are successful on the national and international stage. Eighteen BC Games alumni represented Canada at the 2014 Olympics and Paralympics, including Jamie Benn (hockey), Denny Morrison (speed skating), Kelsey Serwa (ski cross) and Josh Dueck (Para alpine). Fifty-seven per cent of the Team BC athletes who competed at the 2015 Canada Winter Games were BC Games alumni.
These BC Games are distinct from Special Olympics BC Games, which are our Provincial Games hosted by SOBC solely for SOBC athletes.
SOBC athletes have been showcasing their skills in the generic BC Games for 12 years, competing in Special Olympics divisions. Prior to 2014, SOBC athletes at BC Games competed in athletics and swimming. Their expansion into BC Winter Games began in 2014 with basketball and continues in 2016 with the addition of figure skating.
“The BC Games are always an exciting opportunity for athletes and coaches to compete and learn. Our athletes get a lot out of competing and being part of the BC Games environment, and they put on a great demonstration of their skills as they participate alongside the mainstream athletes,” says Shawn Fevens, SOBC Manager, Sport.
These integrated competitive opportunities give SOBC athletes a chance to shine in front of their peers from generic sports. SOBC athletes will also compete in the Abbotsford 2016 BC Summer Games.