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Team Kelowna set for Lithuania

Kelowna sending 14 athletes to 2017 International Children’s Summer Games.
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Kelowna’s contingent for the International Children’s Games next month in Lithuania. -Image: Contributed

Fourteen young athletes will carry Kelowna’s and Canada’s colours next month at the International Children’s Summer Games in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Aged 12 to 15, members of Team Kelowna will compete in swimming, sailing and beach volleyball, from July 4 to 9.

The local contingent also includes four coaches, one head of delegation and one city representative.

Earlier this month, Team Kelowna was presented with their uniforms and and given well wishes by Kelowna Deputy Mayor Ryan Donn.

“I was very pleased to be part of the ceremony to present the team uniforms to Team Kelowna going to Kaunas Lithuania in just a few short weeks” said Donn. “The International Children’s Games provide our young athletes and coaches in the community the opportunity to gain International competition experience while experiencing other cultures.

“I am proud that these athletes will be representing the city of Kelowna internationally when they attend the Games in July.”

The International Children’s Games is one of the largest multi-sport youth games in the world and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The summer games in Kaunas will be busy games with over 1,700 young athletes from 91 different cities from around the world expected to attend.

Kelowna hosted the International Children’s Winter Games in 2011 and have attend all subsequent games since. Kelowna will be the only city in western Canada to attend the Games.

More than 250 athletes and coaches have been part of Team Kelowna to date and participated in the International Children’s Games.

“Thanks to the support of the community here in Kelowna we have participated in each Games since we hosted in 2011 winning 20 medals in just six years. Kelowna is also one of a few cities that has won both summer and winter games medals,” stated Heather Schneider, President of the International Children’s Games Kelowna Legacy Committee.

Team Kelowna is:

• Beach Volleyball—Tessa Ivans, Jasaana Kunz, Maxim Gagne, Maxwell Ivans, Jacky Ivans (coach), and Cheryl Gagne (coach).

• Sailing: Gabriella Littleton, Ryan Rubadeau and Devin Rubadeau (coach).

• Swimming: Olivia Courtney, Flyn Huber, Evan Kohnke, Brandon Mullin, Ella Rolleston, Brooklyn Semashkewich, Renier Stone, Journee Tozer and Linda La Lone (coach).

The head of delegation is Lance Macdonald and the city representative is Heather Schneider.