'Most incredible experience': Athletes compete at Special Olympics in Alberta

Tanner Svenson, 23, from Prince Albert, Sask., second from right, is pictured with family at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alta., in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Special Olympics Canada (Mandatory Credit)

MEDICINE HAT — Tanner Svenson says winning gold in bocce at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games has capped off a life-changing week in southeast Alberta.

He was down zero to five before mounting a comeback to win 12-5 over Trevor Campese of British Columbia at the Marble Go Centre in Medicine Hat, Alta., where the Games were held this week.

“After 10 months of preparation and training it just feels like I’ve done everything I could — and it just paid off,” Svenson said in an interview Saturday morning.

The 23-year-old athlete, who has started a career as a hockey broadcaster in his hometown of Prince Albert, Sask., also interviewed Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour on Wednesday.

“It’s been the most incredible experience of my life,” he said of his week spent at the Games.

Svenson said both winning, which may earn him a berth at the Special Olympics world competition next year, and spending time with Arbour were important to him.

He is one of more than 1,700 Canadian athletes, coaches and officials participating across 10 sports at the Games in Medicine Hat, Alta., about 300 kilometres south of Calgary.

Those who win gold in Medicine Hat will be considered by Team Canada for the Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place next fall in Chile.

As of Saturday afternoon, Team Ontario dominated the Summer Games standings with 398 medals. British Columbia was second with 337 medals and Alberta stands third place with 126.

$12M boost to Medicine Hat economy

Games Manager Kara Brake said local organizers first started talking about hosting the Summer Games in 2018.

It won hosting rights for 2022 but that year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The city got first right of refusal for 2026 and was able to host it this year.

“So for some of us, this has been six or seven or eight years in the making to finally have these games,” Brake said by phone in a short interview between events.

The Games are expected to bring a $12-million boost to the southeast Alberta city, said Brake.

It’s one of the only major sporting events Medicine Hat has hosted since it upgraded its 7,000-seat hockey arena in 2016 and expanded its recreation centre over a decade ago.

While organizers knew there would be some economic investment through logistics like catering and hotels, Brake said there was no guarantee visitors would explore Medicine Hat.

But since the Games got underway Monday, she’s seen participants, coaches, parents and viewers across the city in local businesses and walking downtown.

“For the tourism dollars and even just putting Medicine Hat on the map, it’s been really neat,” Brake said.

Organizers have also turned to an army of about 1,400 volunteers that’s made it all come to life, many of them residents of the region, she added.

Canada’s secretary of state for sport Adam van Koeverden said the athletes “have made Canada proud.”

“Your hard work and dedication shined brightly, and your commitment to give your very best, support one another and never stop believing in what is possible has inspired us all,” van Koeverden said in a statement.

The Summer Games will come to a close Saturday with a private ceremony at Co-op Place, where the local Canadian Hockey League team plays.

Following the ceremony, Brake said there will be an athlete dance that will let the Games participants let off some steam after a week of competing and mingle with new-found friends from across the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2026.

— By Eli Ridder in Fredericton.

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press