It is with great pleasure to announce that Nova Scotia will be the host of the 2018 Special Olympics Canada National Summer Games from July 31st to August 4th, 2018. We are also extremely excited to be hosting this event in the Town of Antigonish and the host site of Saint Francis Xavier University (StFX). The National Summer Games will be welcoming approximately 1030 athletes and 415 coaches and staff to the province. We look forward to showing the country what Nova Scotia hospitality is all about.
Running national caliber events comes with detailed planning and preparation and we are ready for the challenge. We have already started the initial stages of putting together a strong team of volunteers together to deliver the best event possible.
During this week long event, the 2018 National Summer Games will be hosting Athletics, Swimming, Golf, Bocce, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Soccer, Softball, and Basketball competitions. Here are some details on the venues where you can find these amazing athletes competing.
Athletics:
The Athletics competition will take place at Oland Stadium on the St Francis Xavier University (St FX) Campus. The track is a 400 meter rubberized track with 8 lanes. The track was completed in 2009. There is grandstand seating for 4000 for spectators, stadium lighting, and perimeter fencing.
Swimming:
The Swimming competition will take place at the Alumni Aquatics Centre on the campus of St Francis Xavier University. The pool is six (6) lanes of 25 meter facility. Bleacher seating will be provided as well as a mezzanine seating area overlooking the pool.
Golf:
The Golf competition will take place at the Antigonish Golf & Country Club located at 87 Cloverville in Antigonish. The course is a par 72 equally divided on two 9-hole sections. In terms of difficulty level, the anticipated 9-hole set up will have a rating of 32.8, a slop of 117, and no dog-legs. Established in 1926, an immaculate 18 hole course carved through the Highland Heart of Nova Scotia
Bocce:
The Bocce competition will take place on the campus of Saint Francis Xavier University (StFX) at Memorial Field. Bleacher seating will be provided at each competition field.
Rhythmic Gymnastics:
The Rhythmic Gymnastics competition will take place on the Saint Francis Xavier (StFX) Campus at the Charles V Keating Centre. Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre is a multi-purpose arena and conference centre. Seating will be available in the arena as well as the floor.
Powerlifting:
The Powerlifting competition will take place on the Saint Francis Xavier (StFX) Campus at the Charles V Keating Centre. Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre is a multi-purpose arena and conference centre. Seating will be available in the arena as well as the floor.
Soccer:
The Soccer competition will take place on St Francis Xavier University (St FX) Campus soccer fields. The soccer pitches (natural grass) will be regulation dimensions. Warm-up area will be provided adjacent to the competition area. Bleacher seating will be provided at each competition field.
Softball:
The Softball competition will take place at Dr. John H. Gillis Regional High School located at 105 Braemore Ave. in Antigonish. There will be two softball diamonds that will be used for competition with an extra field available for warm-ups. Bleacher seating will be provided at each competition field.
Basketball:
The basketball competition will take place in the newly renovated Oland Centre on St Francis Xavier University (St FX) Campus. The venue has two gymnasiums; the main competition floor and an auxiliary floor that may be used as a practice/warm-up area. Bleacher seating will be available.