OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada -- The Canada Games Council (CGC) announced the final sports selected for the 2013 Canada Summer Games, to be hosted in Quebec. Official notice was received by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) last week that golf was selected as an official sport of the Canada Games.

“The RCGA is honoured that the CGC has selected the sport of golf to the 2009 and now 2013 Canada Games. As the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA truly believes that the Canada Games provides our high-performance golf athletes across Canada with a major benchmark for excellence.” said Jeff Thompson, RCGA Managing Director, Player and Program Development.

For the 2009 Canada Games, the host province of Prince Edward Island selected golf as their “Host Choice” sport to be included in the Games. For the 2013 Games, golf was selected based on meeting set sport selection criteria. All sports wishing to be included in the 2013 Canada Summer Games are analyzed by the CGC’s Sport Committee following a clear and objective sport selection process.

The Canada Games are important to the development of Canadian sport, and thus have evolved to the size where more sports vie for inclusion than any specific Games could possibly include. The overall guidance for the sport selection process comes from the Canadian Sport Policy, which states that the Canada Games are to assist in “increasing the quality and numbers of the next generation of national team athletes participating in international competition”. In addition, the CGC is committed to equitable competitive opportunities for both males and females, and offering opportunities to athletes with a disability.

Eight sports were pre-selected to the Games based on meeting the sport selection process’ enhanced criteria. An extra assessment was conducted by the Sport Committee on the remaining eligible NSO’s which applied for inclusion.

The extra assessment included Provincial and Territorial ranking, Sport Canada ranking, a coaching assessment, international major games inclusion and NSO membership. New sports to the 2013 summer program include fencing and a new event in yachting for athletes with a disability. The CGC’s Sport Committee also agreed to maintain the number of sports on the program for athletes with a physical and intellectual disability and to continue with the Female Apprentice Coach Program first introduced for the 2005 Summer Games in Regina, SK.

Other sports in the 2013 Canada Summer Games program that will join golf include:
Athletics (male and female, including athletes with a physical and intellectual disability)
Baseball (male)
Basketball (male and female)
Canoeing (male and female, flat water racing, includes canoe & kayak)
Cycling (male and female, mountain bike)
Diving (male and female)
Fencing (male and female)
Rowing (male and female)
Soccer (male and female)
Softball (female)
Swimming (male and female, including athletes with a physical and intellectual disability)
Tennis (male and female)
Triathlon (male and female)
Volleyball (male and female, indoor and beach)
Wrestling (male and female)
Yachting (male and female, including athletes with a physical disability)

The Sport Committee also named two sports for the 2013 bid committee selection: Cycling – Road (male and female), and Taekwondo (male and female). The bid committee that wins the right to host the 2013 Canada Summer Games will indicate to the Council its choice from the short-list of Road Cycling or Taekwondo.

The Canada Games Council will launch the 2013 bid process to select the host community in January 2008 in Montreal, Quebec.

ABOUT THE CANADA GAMES
Held once every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for the next generation of national team athletes and future champions. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. Since the first Games in 1967 in Quebec City, more than 75,000 young athletes have participated in the Canada Games.

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of the local Host Society, the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments and the Canada Games Council. The 2009 Canada Games will take place in Prince Edward Island and the 2011 Canada Games will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,650 clubs across the country. Some of the RCGA’s core services include the Rules of Golf, handicapping and course rating, support of turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while six regional junior championships, 10 national amateur championships and the CN Canadian Women’s Tour showcase the best of Canadian golf. For more information please visit www.rcga.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Anthony Alfred Denisa Horak
Director, Media and Public Relations Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
Royal Canadian Golf Association Canada Games
Office: 1-800-263-0009 ext. 227 Office: (613) 526-2320
Mobile: (416) 819-0286 Email: dhorak@canadagames.ca
Email: aalfred@rcga.org