Calgary Corporate Challenge games down but not out

The Calgary Corporate Challenge September games are underway, and while the non-profit says it's definitely seen fewer dollars coming in this year as a result of the downturn, it's not all negative.

Nadia Taylor has been participating in the games for five years with Suncor. She saidthis year, participant registration at the company dropped to around 380 from the typical 500.

That's a roughly 24per cent drop.

"People still want to do it. And they're still trying everything to make it happen," Taylor said.

"There's been a lot of layoffs so a lot of people that have previously signed upare no longer here. I think alsodirection has been more towards working and home life, and not on these extra-curricular activities."

Dave Ford, communicationscoordinator with the challenge, says some of the oil and gas companies that traditionally take part and play a role in sponsorship are taking a break.

"Basically, we're looking at it as a transitional year," Ford told CBC News.

'Focus on diversifying'

He says the non-profit has felt the difference in terms of corporate sponsors.

"Some of those oil and gas companies that have traditionally been taking part in Calgary Corporate Challenge, they have started to go on a bit of a hiatus with us as they try and figure out the current economic situation," he said.

But Ford says that's allowing companies from other industries to come in.

"We're trying to focus on diversifying. We really do think that that's going to make us stronger moving forward and less susceptible to these sort of downturns in the economy."

The games run until Sept. 24.

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