Olympians, celebrities, and most importantly some of the athletes from the upcoming Calgary’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games took part in a momentum building snowshoeing race on Monday, just ahead of the start of the games.

The celebrity-filled event that included the fastest woman on ice (and as it turns out snow) Catriona Le May Doan, broadcaster Rob Kerr, and Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner representing the City of Calgary, has been a staple of pre-Special winter games across the nation.

Karen Dommett, General Manager for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024, said that the event really was a kickoff for what was to come over the coming days.

“We’ve got a room here filled with celebrities, Olympians, some of our Special Olympic athletes, lots of our sponsors, and executives all coming here to step in the snow shoes of a Special Olympics athlete and have just a fun day of testing out the course,” she said.

“This is a traditional part of snowshoe to always have a snowshoe celebrity race. It’s a really great way to bring all of our partners together, and show all their contributions.”

Dommett said that they wanted to really find a way to showcase the Special Olympics movement, and the athletes, and to provide the opportunity for the people who are helping to support the games to understand the high level of the competition.

“We, of course, want tons of Calgarians coming out seeing the ability of the athletes that’s on display this week. These athletes have trained just as any other generic sport athlete would to compete at this level, and they’ve all earned their spot to be here and this is a great opportunity for everyone to to witnesses to that and change their perceptions of disability,” she said.

Calgary a welcoming city for games

Coun. Penner said that the Games represented the ability for the City of Calgary to showcase the facilities and the welcoming nature of the city for athletes of any ability.

“To be able to host the Special Olympics here in Calgary really does showcase and demonstrate the openness and willingness to make those—I don’t want to call them accommodations—those advancements in accessibility so that all ages and abilities can participate in sport and in recreation,” Penner said.

“So for us to be able to showcase our facilities and showcase how we’re welcoming athletes to the city to participate and excel in their passion, I’m very excited.”

The games officially kick off on Feb. 27, with a sold out opening games ceremony at Stampede Park. But, said Dommett, there were still opportunities for Calgarians to take in the games.

All of the competitions outside of curling and five-pin bowling that have limited space, she said, were free and un-ticketed and Calgarians were more than welcome to attend and cheer on the competitors.

“We have eight sports across seven venues, and we have over 800 athletes competing in these games. Team sizes is over 1,200 when you add in coaches and admission staff, and we have over 100 athletes here snowshoeing competing, which one of our biggest sports,” she said.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow evening for the opening ceremony to see all the athletes coming together for the first time, and their moment as they walk out in that big parade and just see that they’ve made it there on the stage, where our opening ceremonies are completely sold out.”

She said that the games would also be holding a big pancake breakfast, courtesy of Safeway, on March 2 to celebrate the athletes and the games.

For full details on the games, and for a schedule of the events, see calgary2024.specialolympics.ca.

Photos of the celebrity snowshoe race