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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The world will be on their way to Torino, Italy for the start of the World Masters Games on Aug. 2 and among more than 30,000 athletes taking part, three will be from Yellowknife.

Paul Gard reminisces over a photo album. He will be one of three Yellowknife athletes heading to the World Masters Games in Torino, Italy, which begins on Aug. 2. - NNSL file photo

Paul Gard, Barry Bessette and Abe Theil are set to take on the world in their respective sports; Gard and Bessette will be playing in the 45-plus men's fastpitch event, while Theil will be playing in 45-plus men's volleyball.

"I'd rather play 55-plus but unfortunately, we didn't have enough old guys," Gard said with a laugh.

Gard and Bessette are joining up with the Northeast Alberta Selects for the tournament and Gard said this isn't the first time he's played with the team.

"I've played with them a couple of times over the past 15 years, I would guess," he said. "I went with them the last time to Sydney, Australia (for the 2009

World Masters Games)."

Counting this time in Torino, this will be Gard's fifth appearance at the games, playing previously in 1998, 2002, 2005 and 2009.

Gard said it's been a different experience every time he's gone in terms of the environment he's been in.

"The first year I went was in Portland, Oregon, and then Melbourne, Australia, then Edmonton, then Sydney and now Torino, so you get to see different cultures," he said. "You're all playing the same game, but it's all unique in itself, I guess."

Another difference is the style of play one will see at the games.

Gard said there are definite differences in the pitching and the fielding.

"You can tell who's learned to pitch in Australia and New Zealand because they have their own style," he said. "The American players, defensively, they're like the Japanese - hard to beat in terms of basic mechanics because all of those guys grew up playing baseball when they were young but (they're) not as strong in pitching as Canada, Australia or New Zealand."

Every time Gard has gone to the games, he hasn't finished worse than third, winning one silver and three bronze medals in his four past appearances. He won bronze in Sydney four years ago.

"No gold medals yet," said Gard. "We were so close in Melbourne. We went 11-and-0 in the round-robin, didn't give up one run and then we lost, 2-0, in the final."

Melbourne in 2002 was the year in which the team consisted mostly of players from Yellowknife with a couple of pick-up players from British Columbia joining in to help fill the roster.

Even though no one is able to avoid getting older, Gard said there are still players in the competition who have been, and still are, at the top echelon of the sport.

"You have Darren Zack and Mike Piechnik, who are two of Canada's best ever pitchers, playing," he said. "There's also Paul Algar from New Zealand, one of the best pitchers ever. It's good ball and it's a fun event. One of the best things I heard was when we were in Portland and a radio station interviewed a guy who was 92 years old and he was competing in shot put. They asked what his goal was and he said not to drop the shot on his foot."

Gard has plans to compete in the 2017 games when they move to Auckland, New Zealand, so long as he holds out.

"I'm hoping to be there if I'm still above ground," he joked.

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