Sports key to a community

This week’s issue of the Advocate celebrates local athletes and those who support them with our annual Winter Sports Showcase.

There are a great many people playing a number of sports in Athabasca, Boyle and the surrounding area. Though we’ve made every effort to recognize as many of them as we can, it’s likely some teams and athletes have been left out. Those not found in these pages are equally deserving of recognition for their efforts.

Sports are important to the lives of many people. They challenge us to reach further and farther. They give us a chance to develop new skills and show our dedication. They help us form strong and lasting friendships thanks to the bond that comes with being a teammate. Many adults count moments from their sporting days among their most cherished memories. And, of course, getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop playing. There are plenty of ways to get active once you outgrow ‘minor’ sports.

Local athletes continue to outdo themselves every year, both on and off of their fields of competition. It’s not all about results; athletes must also represent their community in the best manner possible.

But athletes wouldn’t have a chance to have so much fun and create special memories if not for the volunteers who give their time and effort as coaches, executives and other volunteers.

It takes a community to keep sports alive, and this one certainly has.