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London

Ontario Summer Games Kick Off In London

The province's top young athletes will be calling London home for the next four days as the 2018 Ontario Summer Games begin at Western University.

The opening ceremony Thursday night at TD Stadium will feature an athlete's parade, remarks from Canadian decathlete Damian Warner and Canadian bobsledder Alex Kopacz, and performances by Juno nominated singer/songwriter Scott Helman and Kitchener rockers Courage My Love.

Over 3,500 athletes ranging in age from 12 to 18, coaches, and officials will be spread out at several different venues in the region for the games, which continue through Sunday. The games feature a total of 21 different sporting events, including hockey, archery, mountain biking, road cycling, beach volleyball, softball, sailing, and box lacrosse. For the first time since 2010, athletics has also been added to the games.

“Two years of meetings and planning all comes together over one weekend. I’m so proud of the work our Games Organizing Committee has done to prepare for this day and have no doubt athletes will enjoy what we have in store for them," said Bill Merrylees, chair of the London 2018 Ontario Summer Games.

For some of the thousands of athletes, the games will be the pinnacle of their sporting careers. For others, it will be a stepping stone to national and international competitions such as the Canada Summer Games, Pan Am Games, and the Olympics.

"Participating in the Games is an incredible opportunity to test your skills against the best athletes across Ontario. Ontario is proud to support our young athletes and I wish them the best of luck this weekend," said Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Sylvia Jones.

Approximately 1,000 volunteers will be on hand through the games to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Admission to the Opening Ceremony and all sporting events is free. A full list of sports, venues, and schedules can be found at www.london2018.ca.

This is London’s fourth time hosting the summer sporting event. The games were held in London in 2004, 1996, and 1975. The city will also host the games in 2020.

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