REGINA — In an announcement on their website and on social media, the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games committee in Regina said “With heavy hearts” they will no longer proceed due to COVID-19.
“The Saskatchewan Games Council and the Regina Host Committee have made the difficult decision that the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games in Regina will not proceed in February based on advice from medical advisors due to the unpredictability of the Omicron variant. This decision follows a recommendation by medical health officials representing the Saskatchewan Health Authority, as well as input from the Medical Division of the Host Organizing Committee,” said the statement.
The Saskatchewan Games Council and the Regina Host Committee worked collaboratively with medical advisors throughout the planning process, and cited the Omicron variant of COVID in particular as the main source of concern.
“Most recently, the unpredictability and rapid spread of the new Omicron variant has added an extra layer of health and public safety risk that became collectively more challenging to mitigate. The Host Organizing Committee has taken every precaution to ensure the health and safety of the Games participants, the Regina community, and visitors from across the province.”
The games council further stated that “throughout the process the health and safety of everyone involved was the number one priority and became evident when making this tough decision.”
Over the following weeks, the Saskatchewan Games Council will work closely with its partners and the Regina Host Committee to explore options on how to best meet the needs of athletes, stakeholders, and the host community. The hope is to deliver the 2022 edition of the Games in the future. Additional information will be communicated when a shared decision has been reached.
