According to www.special olympics.ab.ca, in February 2012, Alberta’s Special Olympics athletes will compete on home soil for the first time in almost 20 years.

At the regular council meeting on June 21, Yvonne McNabb, culture and recreation director, announced that the local committee had been working with the Special Olympics Committee and are “full on ready” to host the alpine events here in Jasper from Feb. 29 to March 3.

“There will be approximately 45 athletes and 30 coaches coming to the community with their families and friends,” said McNabb, adding that Mountain Park Lodges has been selected as the hotel for the athletes.

There are volunteer opportunities available through McNabb in the areas of administration, volunteer management, accreditation, registration and internal communication, marketing and communications, advertising and promotions, and venue signage. To sign up as a volunteer, contact McNabb at 780-852-6508 or at ymcnabb@town.japer.ab.ca

“Volunteers need security checks,” she said. The process can be lengthy. “Go and get it done early even though you might not be signed to a specific job.”

Marmot Basin will host the ski events and McNabb said the athletes are set to be on the slopes on Feb. 29 for practise, with the main events happening on March 1 and 2, along with medal presentations.

The Alberta team has already begun practising in St. Albert, and a fundraising celebrity bonspeil will be hosted in that community in October.

The athletes who will represent the province at the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games were chosen based on results from the 2011 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games. Visit www.specialolympics.ab.ca, to see the 2012 athletes.

Keep an eye on the Fitzhugh in the coming months for more coverage of this event.