Athletes Gear up for Games at Team Rally

Exactly one week before the opening ceremonies of the 2003 Canada Winter Games, athletes from across the province will gear up for Canada's biggest amateur multi-sport event at the Team Nova Scotia rally on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Since the sporting events are divided between the two weeks of the Games, the rally is the only opportunity for all 284 members of Team Nova Scotia to come together. Nova Scotians are welcome to join the athletes for the event, beginning at 12:45 p.m. at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Rd., in Halifax.

"In just one week, our athletes will board buses bound for the Games with one common goal in mind -- to give the performance of their lives for Nova Scotia," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Before they go, we're going to give them a great send-off at the rally, and I encourage all Nova Scotians to cheer them on throughout the Games."

Athletes will be joined by their families, coaches, managers, mission staff and sponsors at the event. The team's flag bearer, Nicole Doucet, plans to rally her teammates and encourage them to make the most of the Games.

"For most of us, the Games will be our first experience at a multi-sport event, so I'm encouraging my fellow athletes to remember they're part of a bigger team -- Team Nova Scotia," said Ms. Doucet. "By digging deep and working as a team, I know we will represent our province with pride."

Ms. Doucet is a goalie on Nova Scotia's ringette team. She was chosen as flag bearer for her commitment to sport, to her team and to Nova Scotia.

The Games will run from Feb. 22 to March 8 in Bathurst- Campbellton, N.B. Team Nova Scotia will compete in 18 of the 21 sports represented during the two weeks of the Games.

Team Nova Scotia is funded by the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission, a division of the Office of Health Promotion. Team Nova Scotia sponsors include Avis, Spring Rain, ATV, and Aliant. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation sponsors Team Atlantic -- supporting all teams from Atlantic Canada for the 2003 Games.

For more information on Team Nova Scotia and its sponsors, visit the team Web site at winter2003.ns.canadagames.ca .