The East Coast Games are Back – Bigger and Better for 2016

More sports and more fun!
Plan to be in Saint John on June 24-26, 2016 for this great Multi-Sport Tournament weekend! The East Coast Games are back!

Following the major success of the inaugural East Coast Games, the event is poised for growth in 2016 with an expected 2000 participants and a new title sponsor.

“We’re really excited to see how the Games are growing for 2016,” says Bill MacMackin, Event Organizer. “The positive feedback we had from so many of our participants, sponsors and the community encouraged the committee to continue to grow and develop the event.  We’re expecting to double the number of participating athletes in 2016 and will be adding four  new sports to the Games roster, bringing the total number of sports to 11. We are also very excited to be able to welcome our new Presenting Sponsor, Emera New Brunswick.”

“We’re extremely pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the 2016 East Coast Games,” says Emera New Brunswick General Manager Christian Richard. “We believe in giving back to the communities that are home to the Brunswick Pipeline, and part of  how we do that is by investing in events like this and in infrastructure like the Emera New Brunswick field at Shamrock Park. These games bring together competitors from across our province and beyond while providing young athletes a chance to test their skills in a wide variety of sports. I’m confident this will be an exciting event for both the participants and the spectators.”

Last June, over 1000 athletes descended on fields and courts around Saint John for the first-ever East Coast Games.  The idea for the Games was conceived in Saint John and was the largest multi-sports tournaments to be held in Saint John since the 1985 Canada Games. The 2015 Games featured sports including soccer, rugby, basketball, softball, track & field, and lacrosse, and included athletes from Atlantic Canada and the Northeastern United States.

Last year saw the sport of Ultimate Frisbee participate as a demonstration sport. This year, it is a fully recognized sport in the Games calendar. “We’re delighted and excited to be a fully participating sport in the 2016 Games. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase Saint John, promote our region for future sporting events, and encourage participation in Ultimate Frisbee. This is going to be a great event,” says Corinne Fournier, East Coast Games Sport Director, Ultimate Frisbee.

Sports tourism is big business for the city, says Victoria Clarke, executive director of Discover Saint John. “With an estimated economic impact of over $400,000, hotels, restaurants, retailers and attractions will reap the benefits of the games. It’s through the commitment and hard-work of local volunteers, that we can continue to grow sports tourism in the city and drive economic growth in the tourism sector.”

Further updates and Games schedules will be released in the coming months but be sure to mark your calendars for June 23-26, 2016 to see some exciting sporting events and talented athletes.

For more information on the event please email eastcoastgames2015@gmail.com  or visit their website www.eastcoastgames.ca .