This page shows additional information to help you prepare for your BC Games experience.  This information supplements what is provided in the Guide to the Games and at the G2G Sessions.  Click on the tabs to review specific information.

Resources created by our partners are also available to help you prepare - click here to view.

The BC Games are a one-time experience for most Paricipants - enjoy the BC Winter Games and your time in Vernon!

Role of the Coaches

In addition to coaching duties, head coaches and assistant coaches are expected to:

• travel with their athletes on BC Games transportation
• stay with their athletes in BC Games accommodation
• act in a supervisory capacity travelling to/from and at the Games
• ensure that their athletes adhere to the BC Games General Rules 

   

Athletes should remember that:

• They are representing their Zone and their Sport  
• It is expected that they will follow the rules of the BC Games, their Sport and their coach
• They are part of a big event – patience is important
• Volunteers have put in a great deal of effort to make the Games happen -- be polite and remember to thank the volunteers, and that includes their coach   

Before the Games ...

• Read the information in the package mailed to you from our office, including the Guide to the Games -- click here for online version of the Guide.
• Share the information in the Guide with your family and friends as it will help them understand the Games and what you will be experiencing.  In particular, show them pages 18 and 19, which have information specific to them.
• Assist us by completing the Medical, Allergy and Dietary Form (i.e. vegetarian meals, specific food, etc.).  If we don’t know what your needs are, we can’t prepare for you.
• Submit your Participant Biography Form.  If you have an interesting or heart-warming story, tell us about it.  
• Help us tell the story of the Games.  Talk to your Zone Rep or Coach about contacting the local media outlets to tell them you have been selected to compete at the BC Winter Games. 
• Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
• Check-out resources that may help you prepare.

What to Bring

• Your Guide to the Games
• Your Travel Itinerary (the letter included in the package mailed to you)
• Airline Ticket (if you are flying to and/or from the Games)
• Sleeping Bag and Pillow
• Personal Items: Soap, Towel, Toothbrush, etc.
• Winter/Cold Weather Clothing
• Water Bottle – No bottled water will be provided, but there will be places to fill up your water bottle
• Medical and Dental Numbers
• Money for snacks/food while travelling to/from and at the Games and souvenirs
• Your competition equipment/gear

Remember to clearly identify all your personal belongings!

Competition Preparation

• Follow your Bus & Meal Schedule and your Sport Schedule
• Expect delays but don’t cause them - be on time!
• Manage down time between competition and events
• Eat…. recovery eating versus pre-activity eating
• Hydrate
• Stay warm

Mental Preparation

• Have clear goals - here's an activity that may help you set goals for the Games
• Be organized and ready to go
• Give yourself time – focus
• Minimize distractions

The Multi-Sport Games Experience

• Not everything will go as planned -There will be more than 1500 participants at the Games.  The logistics of transporting, feeding, accommodating, and providing competition for this number of athletes, coaches, and officials are significant. It means that things may not be ideal for everyone. When you show up for your meal, there will be others there trying to get their food as well.  Buses may be late due to unforeseen circumstances. 
• Please be patient and remember that the volunteers are doing their best.
• You can help ensure things run smoothly by following your Bus & Meal Schedule (which will be provided at Accreditation).  Be on time.  Be patient!
• Remember that what you do impacts many others at the Games.
• There are many more distractions than at a single-sport event.  Take it all in -- but don't let it get in the way of your striving for your personal best in your sport.
• There will be Participants from other parts of our province and other Sports.  Enjoy meeting and making new friends.
• It will be busy -- a jam-packed 4 days. 

Staying Healthy

• A Medical Clinic is available - go if you are sick or injured
• Tell your Coach if you are not feeling well
• Bring your own water bottle – no sharing
• Sleep (come to the Games well-rested and sleep at the Games)
• Eat well - make healthy choices when selecting your food at breakfasts and dinners 
• It may be very cold - dress appropriately -- remember to bring a hat and gloves
• Drink lots of water

Travel to the Games
Each Participant was mailed a registration package which included a transportation letter that details their specific travel arrangements.  Refer to your letter for details. 

There will be over 1500 Participants at the Games.  In order to get everyone accredited, set up in their accommodation,  to their venue for practice, fed at the Welcoming Banquet, and to the Opening Ceremony, Participants must arrive early.  Transporting this many Participants to the Games has many logistical factors that need to be considered. 

This travel schedule can be very tiring, so get plenty of rest prior to departure and use the travel time to mentally and physically prepare for the competition which begins early Friday. 

A note about Team Travel - Team Travel means that the entire Zone team complement will travel together to and from the Games which enables the BC Games Society to guarantee that the team will travel together on the same bus or flight and that they will arrive at the Games at the same time and also ensures there is always coach or adult supervision for the athletes enroute to the Games.

Coping with Travel
Travel can be long and tiring....

• Get lots of rest prior to departure
• Rest on the road, if you can
• Bring things to read, listen to, etc. to help pass the time
• Stretching in your seat or at rest stops
• Keep hydrated
• Bring snacks
• Check out some other travel pointers...

Food on the Road
The first meal provided to Participants is a box lunch (available at the Accreditation Centre), regardless of what time you (ie those arriving at 7 am will get their box lunch for the day and not have another meal until dinner).  Bring food or money to purchase food enroute to the Games or when they arrive.  Food is not provided on the charter buses or aircraft.

Charter Bus Luggage Restrictions
Checked Luggage - ONE (1) personal bag, maximum 30lbs, plus your sleeping bag
Carry-on Luggage - ONE (1) small bag

Charter Aircraft Luggage Restrictions
Checked Luggage - ONE (1) personal bag (soft sided is preferred), maximum 30lbs, plus your sleeping bag
Carry-on Baggage - ONE (1) bag with a maximum weight of 22lbs and dimensions no larger than 20cm X 35cm X 45cm.  The bag must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Do not pack sharp objects (including scissors, shavers, and nail clippers) in your carry-on luggage.

Accreditation Centre
The Accreditation Centre is open on Thursday Feb 23 from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm to handle all flight and bus arrivals. Participants go through the Accreditation Centre when they arrive and then they will proceed to their assigned accommodation site.  Everyone must check in, in person at the Accreditation Centre (no one can pick up anyone else’s accreditation).  If you don’t go through the accreditation process by 5:00 pm on Thursday, Feb 23, you don’t participate (compete, coach, officiate).

Accreditation Badge
Your Accreditation badge is your identification for access to food, accommodation sites, transportation, special events, etc.  Accreditation helps keep the Games secure and reduces risks. You MUST wear your Accreditation Badge at all times!

Accommodation Sites

• All Participants will be checking into their respective accommodation sites throughout Thursday morning.  Buses will take them from the Accreditation Centre to their designated accommodation. School classrooms are converted to dorms; participants are housed by sport and then by zone and gender.  Participants will be provided with a foam mattress to sleep on.  They must bring their own pillow and sleeping bag.
• Participants will be required to check in and check out everytime they enter/exit the accommodation.  Checking in and checking out are important so that we know who is in the accommodation in case of en emergency.
• All participants under the age of 19 are required to stay in Games accommodation (Participants who live in the host school district can stay at home, unless their PSO does not permit this ... Refer to the Technical Package for your Sport).
• Participants are expected to stay in Games accommodation for the duration of the Games.
  Signing out of accommodation before competition is complete will result in disqualification.  For example, if an athlete is in the finals on Sunday and they check out of accommodation on Saturday, they will NOT be permitted to compete on Sunday.  Participants who are finished competition prior to the final day of the Games,  may remove themselves from Games accommodation. Any participant removing themselves from Games accommodation is also removing themselves from Games transportation for their return trip. This means that they will need to make their own transportation arrangements for their trip home, at their own expense.
• Participants are permitted to permanently leave the Games early if and only if they (or a parent/guardian or the team coach, if under the age of 19) and the Provincial Advisor completes and submits the required form.
  Note: Some sports may require all participants to take BC Games transportation and/or stay in BC Games accommodation. See Technical Package for the respective Sport.

Practices
Most sports have scheduled a practice at their competition venue during the afternoon of Thursday, Feb 23. A reminder to coaches and athletes not to expect to Train at a HIGH LEVEL once during the practice time as the practice times are short.  Athletes should come to the Games in a prepared state… do not expect to CRAM in any last minute training or preparation events after arriving…. It’s simply too busy/chaotic!   

Getting Around the Games
Athletes and Coaches will be guided by their sport-specific “Bus & Meal Schedule” which will tell them when a bus will pick them up from their accommodation site to take them to their competition venue and to meals.  Each Participant will receive a copy the Bus & Meal for their Sport at the Accreditation Centre. 

Sport Schedules
Sport Schedules are available online.

Meals

• Breakfasts and dinners are serverd buffet-style at the food venue and boxed lunches are delivered to the sport venues.  Boxed lunches are a “typical/standard” size … only one is permitted for each Participant … if you like larger meals you may want to bring money to purchase additional food at the concession.  Some snacks will be provided at the accommodation sites each evening.
• Remember that there will be many others getting food at the same time as you… be patient if there is a line-up, clean up after yourself and be sure to thank the volunteers.
• Water – bottled water is not provided to Games participants unless drinkable water is not available at the competition venues.  Bring a water bottle and fill it up!  Drink lots of water.
• Look for additional nutritional information and resources online.

Ceremonies and Medals

• The Opening Ceremony will take place at Westbild Arena (Home of the Vernon Vipers BCJHL).  Participants will parade into the ceremony by Zone and then Sport.  It is your time to be recognized for qualifying to attend the Games.  Coaches parade in with their athletes. Officials from all sports parade in together as a Zone. The ceremony will include some key messages, entertainment and lighting of the Games torch.
• At the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony (approximate finish 8:30 pm) shuttle buses will move participants to their accommodation sites. Please be patient as all 1500 participants need to be transported but not everyone can be moved at once.
• Medals will be presented a Sport Venues based on the Sport Schedules.  Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals will be provided to medalists for events based on the minus-one rule. In addtion to the medal, al medalists will receive a medal pin (Gold, Silver, or Bronze).
• The Closing Ceremony will take place at the Wesbild Centre commencing at 1:30 pm on Sunday, February 26.  Following your competition and Medal Presentation Ceremony on Sunday (if applicable), you will either be taken by bus to your accommodation site to pick up your luggage or be taken directly to the Wesbild Centre with your luggage (consult your Bus & Meal Schedule for more details).  When you arrive for the Closing Ceremony at the Wesbild Centre, you will be asked to drop off/load your luggage on the appropriate bus for your trip home, or in a cube van or tent designated for your specific flight home.  Once you’ve done that, you will be directed to the marshalling area.

Medical Coverage
Medical volunteers will provide treatment for injuries at the Sport venues and if further treatment or assessment is needed, Participants will go to the Medical Clinic which will be open throughout the Games.  BC Games Society has a Medical Protocol for removal from competition – refer to the BC Games website.

Special Events
You must wear your Games Accreditation badge to get into the special events.
 
Friday, February 24
DJ DANCE PARTY
Venue: Best Western Vernon Lodge
Time:  7:00 – 10:00 pm
Welcome 2012 BC Winter Games Athletes!  Come prepared to have FUN, meet with friends, make new friends and dance with the cool DJ’s from ENVASION!  Shadow dance screens, fog machine, coolio lights, Bubble King machine and MORE!

Saturday, February 25
Music Road Show and Entertainment
Venue: Best Western Vernon Lodge
Time:  7:00 – 10:00 pm
Welcome to a second night of the Music Road Show plus entertainment!!!  Sssshh…the entertainment is a surprise you won’t want to miss…starting at 7:00pm!!  Yes, another evening of FUN, DANCING and ENTERTAINMENT! 

There will be over 1500 Participants at the Games.  The logistics and planning that needs to be put in place to feed, accommodate, transport, entertain, and provide competition for this many individuals is significant.  Be patient and be ready at your scheduled times so as not to make others wait.  The Games are 99% volunteer-operated... the volunteers have worked hard to prepare for you.  Be patient when things are not going as planned and remember to thank the volunteers for their effort.

• You will also have the opportunity to have Zone Team Photos taken - your Zone Coach will schedule this at the Games.
• After the Games photos will be available for download.
• After the Closing Ceremony those who travelled to the Games on a bus (or on their own) will depart.  Those flying home will be taken to the Holding Area where there will be activities and places to rest while waiting for their flight home.

• Tell us about your Games experience
  Quotes and stories from participants are used in publications and also help us determine changes for future Games - feedback@bcgames.org. 
• You are an Alumni … we want to know where you go beyond the BC Games - keep us informed - alumni@bcgames.org.
• Thank the Premier and our Minister, the Honourable Ida Chong
  The Province of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, provides significant funds to stage the Games and to provide athletes, coaches, and officials with a quality multi-sport Games experience in BC before they represent their sport and the province at Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Games, or other competitions. Thanking the Premier and the Minister reinforces the importance of the Games and the value they bring.  Letters can be sent directly to the office of the Premier or the Minister or to the BC Games Society for forwarding.
• Thank the Corporate Partners
  The BC Games Corporate Partners (Jazz Air, BlackPress, and Global BC) provide significant funds to help stage the Games.  Their support helps provide a quality Games. Thanking them reinforces the importance of the Games and the value they bring.  Letters can be sent directly to their respective offices or to the BC Games Society for forwarding. 
• Thank your coaches and thank your Provincial Sport Organization - without your coach you would not have this competitive opportunity.  Our partnership with your Provincial Sport Organization is what enables your Sport to be included in the Games - contacts for Provincial Sport Organizaiton are on our website.