Did you know that there are several dozen geographical areas around the world which identify themselves through the name “Burlington”? By far the largest of these communities is located in Ontario. This largest Burlington is located on Lake Ontario and boasts a population of over 160,000.

Pride of place in terms of population is perhaps why the city of Burlington, Ontario was the originator of a very unique idea: host communities with similar names each year in a gaming event for youth of the cities! Burlington Ontario began developing the idea of a competitive tournament in1969; christened the Burlington International Games (or BIG) the tournament is still running strong in 2008, when it will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

History

In 1969, the city of Burlington hosted the very first Burlington International Games. The purpose of the games was to offer an opportunity for the youth of Burlington, Ontario and other regions to experience cultural exchange and friendly competition with youth from other regions.

At first, the exchange only occurred between two communities; the Ontario Burlington and Burlington, Vermont. The cities would take turns hosting the event. In 1998, however, more communities started to catch onto the idea and get involved, and over the last decade the competition has seen participating youth come from all over the world, including several US cities, Japan, the Netherlands, and Quebec.

This year, for the 40th anniversary of BIG, Burlington will once again play the host. Approximately 25 communities from around North America are expected to attend, making these the biggest games ever.

Events and participation

Every year the scheduled list of sports events changes for the Burlington International Games, although some sports have been staples throughout. This year’s competition will feature bowling, track and field, martial arts, football, field hockey, soccer, swimming, skateboarding, baseball, tennis, softball, and volleyball. Additional sports are encouraged and can be accommodated through contact with the BIG organizers.

Of course, an event such as BIG requires a lot of community participation, from athletes, spectators, coaches and volunteers in almost all areas. It is a unique opportunity to participate in the BIG 40th anniversary, where Burlington youth from all over North America and the world have a chance to compete.

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