16 COMMUNITIES WIN PRIZES IN GAMESTOWN 2010 CONTEST

MOUNT WASHINGTON – Five communities from across British Columbia have won tickets to the 2010 Winter Games and another 11 have won other prizes in the first monthly draw in the GamesTown 2010 contest, announced Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Mary Polak. Polak made the announcement at the Road to 2010 Tour stop at Mount Washington. “Communities across British Columbia are signing on to compete for GamesTown 2010 and already it looks like the competition is going to be tight,” said Polak. “These monthly winners can now use these prizes to help build engagement in their communities and encourage residents to support and build on their GamesTown 2010 entry." Armstrong, Lake Cowichan, Qualicum Beach, Chilliwack and Pemberton were each awarded one pair of tickets to the 2010 Winter Games, while Houston won a visit from an Olympic or Paralympic athlete. Port Coquitlam, Victoria, Bowser, Gibsons and Ucluelet each won an ActNow BC prize pack and Burnaby, Nanaimo, the Sunshine Valley, the Village of Queen Charlotte and Nakusp all won a 2010 Winter Games collateral prize pack.

As part of the GamesTown 2010 contest, 16 communities will be awarded monthly prizes in April and May as well. For a community to qualify, residents just need to submit stories, photos or videos online about why their community is GamesTown 2010.

The deadline for entries is Oct. 31, 2009 when an online voting period will let the public select the top ten communities. From there, a panel of B.C. celebrities will judge the final ten and pick the three grand prize winners. Gold, silver and bronze medal winners will receive cash awards of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, to put towards upgrading a local sports, fitness or healthy living facility. Grand prize winners will also receive tickets to the 2010 Winter Games. To upload content, qualify for the monthly draws and to put a community in the running for the title of GamesTown 2010, visit www.GamesTown2010.ca.