The Canada 55-plus games will finally take place in Kamloops this August after a two-year delay.

The games were originally set to take place in 2020 before it was postponed due to COVID-19. Over 2,500 athletes in 26 sports are expected to descend on the Tournament Capital between Aug. 23 and 26 this year.

Henry Pejril, the President and co-chair of the Kamloops Host Committee, says they’ve been planning to host these games in Kamloops since 2018.

“I am so proud of the efforts of our original board and Sports Council staff who brought the Games literally to the brink of hosting – before the pandemic stopped us in our tracks in 2020,” he said.

“I’m particularly proud of and grateful to the many board members who have been able to remain to see this event through, in effect stretching our commitment to a full four years. We are so happy for the opportunity to once again showcase our city on a national scale.”

While athletes that qualify are determined through provincial competitions, new this year is a local component where athletes from the host city will be able to compete. This ‘local’ team could be as large as 270 participants.

“The past two years have been a game of patience,” Brian Richardson, the President of the Canada Seniors Games Association, said. “I hope you are getting ready to meet up with old friends, make new acquaintances and to have some long-awaited fun.”

Kamloops beat out Whitehorse, Calgary, and Fort McMurray to win the bid for the games in 2018, with the economic impact expected to be over $3-million. It will be the first time that these games are held in British Columbia.

Organizers will be looking for volunteers, with a volunteering drive expected to take place later this year.