Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (June 10/02) - Hundreds of young people shouting "Fun!" in unison officially opened last week's 12th annual NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River.

The co-ordinated yell was at the suggestion of event co-coordinator Tim Borchuk, who had been given the task of officially declaring the games open.

"I want you to scream 'Fun!' as loud as you can and we'll consider it open," he told athletes during the opening ceremonies.

And "fun" seemed to be the operative word on the Hay River track the following day.

"I'm having a lot of fun," said 11-year-old Alex Boucher of Deninoo school in Fort Resolution.

Likewise for Calen Hardisty, also 11, of Bompas elementary school in Fort Simpson. "It feels great," was how he described his experience at the championships.

One of the veterans of the championships was Ella Mawdsley of P.W. Kaeser high school in Fort Smith. Mawdsley has been competing at the event since she was five, and this year was her 11th championships. Mawdsley says it is good to compete against other young people from around the NWT. "Especially in the North, you don't get a lot of competition."

Over a thousand Northern athletes -- 1,057 to be exact -- descended on Hay River June 5-7 for the games, representing 30 teams from around the NWT, along with High Level, Alta.

During the opening ceremonies, hundreds of the athletes paraded into Hay River's arena to be greeted by the cheers of volunteers and town residents.

A highlight of the opening was the lighting of the games torch by former event co-ordinator Guy Turvey and his granddaughter Kirsten Turvey.

"Superb, isn't it?" was Turvey's comment when asked what he thought of the ceremonies and the enthusiasm of the young people.

Turvey, who has co-ordinated the event for 11 years, credits outstanding volunteers for enabling the games to keep rolling along.

"It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort."

This year there are co-co-ordinators -- Borchuk and Gordon Miller. Like Turvey, Borchuk credits the work of the volunteers for the continuing success of the championships.

"It's just a whole town affair."