The 2016 Power Smart Manitoba Summer Games came to an end Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds of athletes, coaches, dignitaries and spectators attended the closing ceremonies at the SRSS. Local dignitaries and organizers gave speeches many of which praised the City of Steinbach, the athletes, and above all the volunteers.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen told the crowd there was much success to celebrate over the last week of competition.

“I do especially want to say thank you. Thank you to the people of Steinbach for being so welcoming to all of our visitors this week. Thank you to our volunteers who made this an amazing event.”

The interim CEO of Sport Manitoba Laurel Read says the many athletes that attended the summer games in Steinbach are the future of sport in Manitoba and the future of sport in Canada.

“Three thousand athletes, coaches, and volunteers gathered together for one whole week from all different parts of the province and from different backgrounds cultures and experiences. For one week we all had the common goal to experience true sport and to live the magic of the games.”

At one point during the ceremony, the entire group of athletes started chanting “thank you, Steinbach.” The excitement of the ceremony was helped along by performances from Stoney brook Dance Company and award-winning Scorpion Elite Cheer.

Shortly before the ceremony came to a close and the athletes made their way home organizers from Eastman Region handed the flag over to Westman who will host the Manitoba Winter Games in 2018.