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4 MWEEKERD YAR A193 FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2000 'Summer Games set to begin next week -Scugog, Uxbridge and- Brock all host events By Jeff Mitchell Weekend Star Durham Region is all set for the 2000 Ontario summer Games, and municipali- ties in North Durham will be seeing their share of action. Opening ceremonies for the games, which will take place in all nine munici- palities in the region, are to take place next Thursday night (Aug. 10) at Civic Fields in Oshawa. Over the next three days, young athletes from across the province will compete in a wide variety of events at venues here, and throughout the region. There will be plenty to see in the northern townships. Scugog will host row- ing, lawn bowling, cycling, canoeing, waterskiing, ladies' rugby, and beach vol- leyball. In Uxbridge there's lawn bowling, ladies' soccer, beach volleyball and cycling. Brock will see men's softball' action, as well as cycling. Making the weekend more of a treat for spectators will be plans to hold medal ceremonies for the individual events in the host municipalities throughout the weekend. Howard Hall, a former mayor of Scugog who co-chaired the Games' corporate fundraising committee, said upwards of 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials, par- ticipating in 21 events, are expected. They will be billeted in high schools throughout Durham. Corporate donations - such as one for $5,000, made by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce - have helped fund the Ontario Summer Games, which begin next week in Durham. Gathering for a cheque presentation at ~ the CIBC branch in Port Perry earlier this week were bank representatives Ingrid Larmer, Clyde Russell and Graham Knight, with fundraising commit- tee reps Jerry Taylor and Howard Hall. Preparations for the Games have been going on for months in advance of next Thursday's opening ceremonies, he said. "There are about 1,200 volunteers involved in this, in all capacities," said Mr. Hall. "That's everything from keeping score to parking cars." Fundraising for the event went well, with Mr. Hall's committee - all former politicians in Durham - raking in some $300,000 in cash and service in kind from major corporate Sponsors. The province kicked in $400,000, and participants pay a registration fee of $60 each. The Games have a total budget of $940,000. "We raised over $300,000 in cash, and service in kind," said Mr. Hall. "They're equally important; if you get service in kind, you don't have to spend cash. But at the same time, you do have to spend some cash." Companies throughout Durham have also been encouraged to buy the colour- ful Summer Games banners that have been hanging along streets throughout Durham for a couple of weeks now. And the donations of some services have helped organizers present the games in style. One example is the Durham computer company The Idea People, which has designed a system that will allow for quick reporting of event results. "There will be a computer at each site," said Mr. Hall. "The winners will be on Rogers Cable within five minutes of them being announced." The Games are seen as an opportuni- ty to showcase Durham - between 12,000 and 15,000 spectators are expected to visit - and encourage young Ontario ath- letes to continue in their endeavours, said Mr. Hall. "Some of the youth competing here will be in the Olympics in four years," he said. 2000 - Audi won Le Mans...1999 - Panoz won Mosport Nose to Nose supremacy... August 4th to 6th!! Prototype, GTS and GT cars Plus: Six professional championship series Weekend Super Ticket Only $60.00 (At The Gate. Daily tickets also available) Featuring 1 MOSPCRT - TERNATIONAL RACEWAY American FOR THE FANS LE MANS C Series" Ron Fellows returns! Driving the C5-R Corvette, Ron is back to battle the Vipers.... on his turf! oh official vehicle su fe The official Battery of Mosport International Raceway Call: 1-800-866-1072, 1itketnasioy or on-line: www.mosport.com The official Beer of Mosport International Raceway Mosport International yj &