Thank you, Medicine Hat

Chair Natalie Sauer speaks at a press conference June 22, 2026 at the Esplanade.

As Chair of the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games – Medicine Hat 2026, and on behalf of the Games Organizing Committee, I want to say something that is difficult to put into these simple words:

Thank you, thank you Medicine Hat and area.

For seven years, we planned, prepared and worked toward the day when athletes from across Canada would arrive in our community. But no amount of planning could have prepared us for the way this community embraced the Games.

From the moment the athletes and their families arrived, Medicine Hat showed them what it means to be a welcoming and inclusive community. You opened your doors, volunteered your time, cheered from the sidelines, helped wherever you could and, in so many ways, went the extra mile.

You didn't just host the Games. You made the Games.

Businesses, organizations, volunteers, families, schools, service clubs and countless individuals all played a part. You gave your support, your time, your energy and your hearts because you believed in the athletes and wanted them to feel welcome.

And they noticed.

They felt the encouragement. They felt the excitement. They felt welcomed. Most importantly, they felt included.

Perhaps the most powerful moment came at the Closing Ceremony as the athletes, coaches and support staff stood together more than 2,000 people gave a standing ovation to the volunteers and the community of Medicine Hat to thank us all for the welcome they received and for the countless hours people gave to make their Games possible.

It was an incredibly moving moment — and one that I hope our community will remember for a very long time.

Medicine Hat has been put on the map like never before, not simply because we hosted a national sporting event, but because of how we hosted it. We showed Canada our generosity, hospitality and commitment to creating a community where everyone is welcomed, valued and included.

As Chair, I could not be more proud to have represented this community.

To everyone who played a part, whether you gave hundreds of hours or simply stood on the sidelines and cheered, thank you!

Thank you for opening your hearts.

Thank you for giving your time.

Thank you for welcoming strangers as friends.

And thank you for showing the athletes that they belong here.

The Games may be over, but I hope the spirit they brought to our community stays with us.

Medicine Hat, you should be proud!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Natalie Sauer

Chair, Special Olympics Canada Summer Games – Medicine Hat 2026