Team Kelowna heading to International Children's Games in England

After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, Team Kelowna is excited for the International Children’s Games in England.

The team was presented with their jerseys at a ceremony in Stuart Park on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s been three years since we’ve had this opportunity," said the chair of Kelowna's International Games committee Lance Macdonald.

"We came close a couple of times only to have the games cancelled, which breaks the athletes’ hearts because they age out and they don’t get to go to the next games … so we’re very excited this group is going to have this opportunity presented to them."

Nearly 10 different sports will be played at the games with team Kelowna being one of 80 teams competing for gold in basketball, swimming and rock climbing.

IGC Basketball Coach Jason McCarthy says the international tournament is so much more than just a competition. “The goal is for the kids to have an opportunity to exchange our culture with the various cultures of the world, obviously to compete and to, as they say in ICG, play fair and make a friend."

Kian Story, a boys basketball player, says he’s excited to meet other kids from all around the world, but that his team is also focused on the task at hand — proudly representing Kelowna.

“Obviously we’re not just going there to play basketball, we’re going there to explore England and I’m really excited for that too ... We’re just going there to win, that’s all there is to it.”

The 2022 International Children’s Games kicks off in England on August 11 and will conclude on August 18. Kelowna hosted the event in 2011.