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GoldenagedcompetitorsmeetatCanada55GamesTeamNWTcapturesatotalof16medalswithninegoldsinswimmingeventsTuesdaySeptember2201415SPORTRECREATION55GAMESByDALICARMICHAELItwasawhirlwindweekofsportandgamesforaselectgroupofNWTseniorswhoheadedsouthtoStrathconaCountyAlta.forthe2014Canada55Games.FromAug.27to3060representativesmadeupTeamNWTtocompeteinthenationalbi-ennialeventwhichdrewinover2000ath-letesfromacrossthecountry.EvenwithasmallteamcomparedtosomeotherprovincestheNWTfoughtandcap-turedatotalof16medalsincluding10goldthreesilverandthreebronze.WereverypleasedsaidJoanHirondirectoroftheNWTteamandrepresenta-tiveoftheterritoryonthetournamentsna-tionalboard.Hironwasoneofthebigwinnersoftheweekendnabbingfourgoldmedalsinherswimmingevents.EdnaWoodwardofFortSmithalsograbbedfourmedalsfortheteamwithtwogoldsonesilverandonebronzeinswimming.ChrisWilliamsofYellowknifecapturedthreegoldsforswimmingtotal-lingninetopmedalsforthesport.TeamNWTalsotookhomemedalsforcyclingdartsandbowling.HironsaidtherewassomedramaforTeamNWTwhenanexcessofcurlerswantedtoattendthegames.HoweverdisasterwasavertedwhenonegroupwasadoptedbyTeamNunavutwhichlackedacurlingcrewandalloftheinterestedpartieswereabletoplay.TeamNWThadparticipantsplayinginothertournamentsportsincludingmenshockeytenniscyclingbowlinggolfbridgecribbagedartsandpool.MorethanjustgamesStrathconaCountyalsohostedaplethoraofculturaleventswhilethegameswereon-going.Games-themedexhibitsaseniorshealthandwellnessexhibitionandaheri-tagesportsdisplaywereopenforplayerstocheckoutin-betweentheirevents.Theopeningandclosingceremonieswerehighlightsofthegamesculturalcomponentofferingachanceforplayerstomeetwithotherlike-mindedpeoplefromacrossthecountryHironsaid.TheplayersmixedandmingledastheymarchedthroughaparadethatkickedoffthetournamentbeforesittingdowntoenjoyaperformancebyalocalseniorsgymnasticsgrouptheRovingCircusPerformers.TheaudiencewasequallyasentertainedbyacomedianwhoclosedoutthetournamentaftereatingwhatHirondescribedasthemostdeliciousmealespeciallyafterworkingupanappetiteoverfourdaysofactivecompetition.WhilethecompetitionswerefunHironsaidtherewereultimatelymorebenetsfortheplayersthanjustwinningmedals.Itsimportantforpeopleastheygetoldertokeepactiveshesaid.Itkeepsthemhealthierandhappierandeventslikethisgiveanop-portunitytomeetotherpeoplefromallacrossCanadawiththesameinterestsanditsfun.EdnaWoodardofFortSmithacceptsoneofthefourmedalsshecapturedintheswimmingeventsattheCanada55Gamesthisweekend.TeamNWTplayersmarchintheCanada55GamesopeningceremoniesinStrathconaCountyAlta.onAug.27.Photoscourtesyofthe2014Canada55Games