​Ontario Athletes win 212 medals at the 50th annual Canada Summer Games

Canada Game 2017. Image credit: Facebook page

​#GraysenBernard, #KarsonKowalchuk, #HannaHenderson, #Winnipeg, #Ontario, #JenniferBennett, #GamesOntarioProgram, #QuestforGold,
 
Toronto, Aug 14 (Canadian-media): Ontario was able to capture  212 medals -- 87 gold, 65 silver and 60 bronze medals -- in the 50th annual Canada Summer Games which took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba from July 28, 2017 through August 13, 2017,  media reports said.

 “It has been an amazing two weeks for Team Ontario at the Canada Games. We finished with 212 medals, a number of top 10 finishes and earned Canada Games records in a number of sports. Team members supported each other by getting out to cheer for each other and rocking each venue with our Icelandic cheer. It has been an honour leading this team and I would like to thank our tremendous Mission Staff for all of their hard work in preparing their teams to excel on the field of play,”  Jennifer Bennett, Chef de Mission, Team Ontario said.

Amateur sport strengthen communities and inspire people in Ontario to live an active lifestyle, said the release. 

 “I am very proud of our Ontario athletes who competed in the Canada Summer Games and I am thrilled that so many of them were able to realize their dreams of reaching the podium. From the inspiring athlete performances, to the dedication of coaches and mission staff, the commitment and sportsmanship of Team Ontario was spectacular. I wish you all the best for your continued success, and look forward to seeing many of you represent Ontario in the future,” said Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Games Ontario Program is responsible for the delivery of five multi-sport Games: Ontario Winter and Summer Games for youth, Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games and the Ontario ParaSport Games, provides financial and administrative support for other major sporting events hosted in Ontario such as the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, 2017 Invictus Games and 2021 Canada Summer Games, and operates the Ontario Sport Hosting Program which provides grants to major international and national sporting events hosted in Ontario as well as to Team Ontario at the Canada Games.

Additional support is provided  to athletes through Quest for Gold program which granted $6.36 million in direct funding to 1,255 Ontario amateur athletes in 2016-17 to enhance their performance while competing at the highest national and international levels.
 
A sport-focused, athlete-centred and results-oriented plan, Game ON–The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan  identified three priorities for amateur sport in Ontario -- participation, development and excellence -- which encourages people to play organized sports. thereby supporting Ontario sporting events.
 
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

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