Hosting a Grand Prix event also contributes to Canada’s involvement in the international figure skating calendar. The competition gives Canadian athletes access to a major event on home ice while bringing overseas competitors, coaching teams and officials to British Columbia. It can provide opportunities for local spectators to experience elite skating directly and for regional organizations to participate in staging an international sporting event. Any broader economic impact will depend on attendance, visitor activity and the resources required to organize the competition.
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As the opening event in France approaches, athletes and coaches are completing preparations for the Grand Prix season. Performances in the first competitions will begin to establish the qualification picture for December, although final standings cannot be determined until the series has progressed. Skate Canada International will therefore serve both as an important individual competition and as one stage in a longer international season. For spectators in Kelowna and across Canada, the event will offer an early opportunity to follow the development of competitive programs ahead of the year’s concluding Grand Prix Final.
