WHITEHORSE – Community Services Minister Archie Lang wishes to congratulate Team Yukon for its golden performance at the Canada Summer Games at Charlottetown.
“The Yukon government congratulates the athletes, artists, coaches, managers, and mission staff that made Yukon’s participation in the 2009 Canada Summer Games an extraordinary experience for all,” said Lang. “It was an honour to see first hand how the programs the Yukon government supports work to generate excellent opportunities for our athletes to develop their skills and improve their performances in their sports.”
“Even though we have a small population our athletes and artists gave performances that were truly larger than life,” said Lang. “Our athletes fared well in competition with athletes from the big provinces. And of course, the historic achievement of Alexandra Gabor in winning two gold medals and two bronze medals certainly made all Yukoners proud.”
A total of 169 athletes, artists, coaches, managers and mission staff represented Yukon at the Canada Summer Games. While the athletes were busy at the many sports venues, the three artists and their manager who formed Yukon contribution to the National Artist Program were equally engaged in the events of the Canada Summer Games. The Canada Summer Games ran from August 15 to 29.
“The Team Yukon contingent was composed of artists participating in the National Artist Program, athletes, competing in 8 sports, their coaches and managers and mission staff from the Yukon Sport and Recreation Branch, Sport Yukon and the sport community,” explained Vern Haggard, Chef de mission and Director of Yukon government’s Sport and Recreation Branch. “Team Yukon was a delight to head up. Not only did our athletes and artists excel on the playing field and in their activities but their support staff did a superb job and all were great ambassadors for Yukon.”
“For many athletes, competing in the Canada Summer Games is the pinnacle of their achievements in their sport,” Haggard said. “For others it is an important step in their continued athletic and personal development as they take their places on the national or international sport stages. We hope that the experiences and the achievements of all our athletes at the Games will inspire our up-and-coming athletes to do their very best. Superior athletic performances like that of Alexandra Gabor will certainly be part of everyone’s memories of the 2009 Summer Games.”
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Roxanne Vallevand
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Mac Hislop
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