The mayor and council have been asked to take part in the medal ceremony during the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, being hosted by Jasper and St. Albert Feb. 28 to March 3, 2012.

The request was made at last week’s council meeting by games manager Mike Edwards.

During his presentation, he challenged council to present a medal without crying, a feat he said is almost impossible because the athlete’s “heart lights up and it shows on their face.”

Mayor Richard Ireland said he was already brought to tears during a presentation in St. Albert in April, when some of the athletes performed.

“The value of this is just getting to know the individual athletes,” he said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity.”

Jasper is hosting the alpine skiing events at Marmot Basin, while St. Albert plays host to cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing and floor hockey.

Athletes are set to be on the slopes Feb. 29 to practise, with the main events happening on March 1 and 2, along with medal presentations.

Coun. Rico Damota suggested that the community also organize a welcoming parade for the athletes, similar to what was done when Canada’s national women’s hockey team came to Jasper to practise before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

All 10 provinces and two territories – Yukon and the Northwest Territories – will be represented at the games. There is expected to be more than 650 athletes competing in the seven events.

To compete in the national event, athletes first had to successfully compete in their region and province.

If they are successful at the Canada Winter Games, athletes will qualify for the Canadian National team, which will compete at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Korea.

Dan MacLennan, chair of the Games Organizing Committee, told council that these athletes are just as well trained and fit as any other.

“We’re trying to promote just how skilled they are,” he said.

“They’re competing just as well as able-minded individuals,” added Edwards.

Special Olympics national winter competitions are held once every four years. The last games were in Quebec City in 2008.

Organizing an event of this magnitude requires a lot of volunteers. Edwards said so far, 675 people have signed up and there is still room for about 50 more.

The deadline for registration was Oct. 28, but he said it remains open in Jasper where only about 60 per cent of the necessary volunteers are in place.

Edwards said with a transient community like Jasper, he can understand it can be tough for people to plan so far in advance.

Ireland assured him that although Jasper is known for being last-minute, the volunteers always come together in the end.

Some categories of volunteer positions are special events, administration, scoring and results, information technology and medical services. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.

Individuals interested in volunteering for the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games can call the games office in St. Albert at 780-458-4564 or contact Yvonne McNabb, director of culture and recreation for the municipality, at 780-852-6508.