Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 Opening Ceremony Presented by Calgary Flames Foundation (SOLD OUT)

February 27, 2024

6:30 – 9 P.M.

Nutrien Western Event Centre – Stampede Park

Let the Games Begin!

The Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 presented by Calgary Flames Foundation will focus on highlighting Calgary’s classic Western hospitality while we celebrate and welcome Canada’s Special Olympics athletes to Calgary through high-energy music and performers including those from the National accessArts Centre, Chinook Line Dancers and Young Canadians. The memorable event will also share the beauty of Canada’s Indigenous people and communities in a celebration with dancers and drummers. Choreographed to create impactful moments between the athletes and local artists at the Opening Ceremony, performances are made possible through the support from Calgary Arts Development. Open to Friends and Family only, the event will be streamed live to all Canadians.

Together. We can.

Upcoming Events

Find information about the games.

Feb

Family and Friends Reception presented by Cenovus Energy (Pre-Purchased Ticket Required)

Family and Friends will come together for an evening of fun, food and drinks, at the incredible Studio Bell where they will wander through the National... Read More

Mar

An olympian with a special olympic comittee member posing for a photo with their thumbs up

Celebrate the Games at Safeway’s Celebration of Champions

All Calgarians are encouraged to show their support for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 at Safeway’s Champions Celebration, March 2 from 10 a.m... Read More

Mar

a family of two smiling for the closing ceremony celebrations

Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 Closing Ceremony Presented by Calgary Flames Foundation (Private Event)

A short 20-minute celebration of the athletes for invited guests will be themed around a Country Glitz and Glam. The high-energy event, held at the... Read More

Land Acknowledgement

The Bow and Elbow rivers meet is a place of confluence where the sharing of ideas and opportunities naturally come together. February 2024, Calgary will be gathering place for more than 1,200 Special Olympics athletes from across Canada in their pursuit of sport excellence and connection. Indigenous peoples have their own names for this area that have been in use long before Scottish settlers named this place Calgary. The Métis call the Calgary area Otos-kwunee [“oh-tus-skwahnee”]. In the Blackfoot language, they call this place, Moh-kins-tsis [“mohk-kin-stis”]. The Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation refer to the Calgary area as Wîchîspa Oyade [“win chee spa oy ah day”] and the people of the Tsuut’ina [“sut sinah”] nation call this area Guts-ists-i [“Goot-sits-say”]. We would like to acknowledge that the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 will be located on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. This includes: the Siksika [“sit-sicka”], Piikani [“peegun-ee”], and Kainai [“gay-nah”] collectively known as the Blackfoot Confederacy; the Îethka [“yitch ka”] Nakoda Wîcastabi [“wee che stahbi”] First Nations, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands; and the Tsuut’ina [“sut sinah”] First Nation. The city of Calgary is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. We acknowledge all Indigenous urban Calgarians, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, who have made Calgary their home. We work, play and reside on this sacred gathering place and the Games will provides us with an opportunity to engage in and demonstrate leadership on reconciliation.