One of the more fantastic aspects of the BC Summer Games is the unity and friendship that is formed not only between team members, but between all the athletes. Many of the teams such as Cariboo-North East (Zone 8), the Kootenays (Zone 1), and North West (Zone 7) have players that live in different cities and towns that are quite spread out from each other.
“Geography and weather have played a huge role in affecting the amount of practice the team has had,” said Kootenays girls’ soccer coach Geoff Byford.
Some teams have had as little as five to six practices together, like the Kootenays team. Despite this, the girls, united by their yellow Kootenays jerseys, reveal a solid bond of friendship, something that can be found among all the girls’ soccer teams.
Maggie Larocque, captain of the Fraser River-Delta (Zone 4) girls' soccer team, shared a bit of her experience, “Not only have I made friends with my team, but I am making friends with all the teams.”
Following the opening ceremony that took place Thursday, July 19th, the Fraser River-Delta team began a game of Stella Ella Ola. It started as a simple game between the team, but soon it grew with more and more people joining in. Rugby players, lacrosse players, soccer players, girls and boys, young and old all united by the rhythmic clapping game.
Even though every athlete has a hope to win gold it is the social aspect, the thrill of making new friends and celebrating with a party at the end of the day that puts a smile on all the faces of the athletes despite the results of their day.