St. FX to host Special Olympics 2018 Summer Games

St. Francis Xavier University will host the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games. The athlete's village will be at the university and several competitions will be held there.

In a news release,St.FXpresident Kent MacDonaldsaid Tuesday's announcement is both exciting and important for the university and for the town of Antigonish.

Nine sports will be featured at the games, including athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball and swimming.

Big crowds expected

The universityestimatedthe event will draw more than 900 athletes, close to 300 coaches, officials, mission staff, 600 volunteers and more than 3,000 spectators.

The Special Olympics Canada 2018Summer Games marks the second time Nova Scotia has held a national summer games, according to St.FX. The last hosted event was in 1994.

The university said it and the town were chosen based on the quality of games they hosted for Special Olympics Nova Scotia in the past.

Sharon Bollenbach, CEO of Special Olympics Canada, said in a news release that the organization is thrilled to take the games to Antigonish.