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ASG competition to go ahead even if there is rain

Jul 20, 2018 | 5:30 AM

Competition is set to get underway today at the Alberta Summer Games, even if it is raining.
 
Games Chair Lionel Robins says some sports are meant to be played in all kinds of conditions.
 
“Rugby, lacrosse, football, you can be assured that they will play most of those games in the rain. We’ve confirmed with the City and County of Grande Prairie that they are prepared to let us use the fields. Typically, in heavier rain, they’ll close the field because they’re looking at the longevity of the season, but we’re in off-season for all these sports.”
 
Robins says some changes may have to be made for baseball and softball.
 
“The sports themselves have some built-in contingency plans which involved either a combination of reducing the amount of games or even shortening the games themselves, playing less innings and getting more games into a smaller space of time.”
 
Robins says sport organizers could also look at rescheduling games.
 
He adds while they play on in the rain, lightning is a different story.
 
“There’s no outdoor sports events that have any plans to play with lightning. I’ve been involved with minor football for almost three decades now and I know even on our side, there’s very strict protocols. (If) the timing between the lightning and thunder (is) under this many seconds or a minute, the game is called and it’s done.”:
 
The Alberta Summer Games run until Sunday.