CANUSA Games

The CANUSA Games are an annual contest, primarily for athletes age 18 and under, between the sister cities of Flint, Michigan, USA, and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The Games are the longest-running amateur sports competition in North America.^[1] The games are held in alternative locations, with Hamilton, Ontario hosting in odd-numbered years.^[2]

History

As a result of the Flint Olympian Games held in Flint, Michigan in July 1957, the Flint officials of the Games wanted a city, of similar size and population, to compete with on a yearly basis. Hamilton was selected, which birthed the "CANUSA" games, whose name was derived from combining the names Canada and USA - CAN/USA.

The Games began in August 1958, and consisted of 200 athletes (from each city) competing in seven different sports. The Games have grown considerably, which is supported by the more than 1,600 athletes from each city competing in 17 different competitive sports, including basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, darts, golf, track and field, and swimming.^[2] An estimated 25,000 people have participated in the games in their 50 years.^[3]

Opening Ceremonies

The Opening Ceremonies of the CANUSA Games are arguably the most highlighted piece of the weekend. One of these highlights is most certainly the running relay which covers the distance between Flint and Hamilton - 245 miles. Departing the night before from the visiting city, relay runners carry the torch over the border, which is one of the longest international runs in all of North America. The torch is run into the venue in which the opening ceremonies are held, which represents the official start of the Games.^[4]

To symbolize the relationship between the sister cities, the national anthems (from both nations) are sung by everyone present at the Opening Ceremonies. The Friendship Trophy is also given by the Mayor of the host city to the Mayor of the visiting city as a symbol of friendship and peace.^[4]

Editions

Edition	Host	Notes
1957	Flint, Michigan, USA	The Flint Olympian Games, a prelude to the first CANUSA Games
1958	Flint, Michigan, USA	The first CANUSA Games
1959	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada	The First CANUSA Games held in Hamilton
1960	Flint, Michigan, USA	The first Harold Webster Trophy was awarded (Track & Field)
1961	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1962	Flint, Michigan, USA
1963	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1964	Flint, Michigan, USA
1965	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1966	Flint, Michigan, USA	The first Jimmy Thompson Memorial Award Trophy was awarded (swimming)
1967	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1968	Flint, Michigan, USA	The first Bernie Arbour Memorial Trophy was awarded (baseball)
1969	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada	The first Ivan Miller Award was awarded (volunteer)
1970	Flint, Michigan, USA
1971	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1972	Flint, Michigan, USA
1973	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1974	Flint, Michigan, USA
1975	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1976	Flint, Michigan, USA
1977	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1978	Flint, Michigan, USA
1979	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1980	Flint, Michigan, USA
1981	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1982	Flint, Michigan, USA
1983	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1984	Flint, Michigan, USA
1985	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1986	Flint, Michigan, USA
1987	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1988	Flint, Michigan, USA
1989	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1990	Flint, Michigan, USA
1991	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1992	Flint, Michigan, USA
1993	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1994	Flint, Michigan, USA	The Games' first paid Business Administrator
1995	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1996	Flint, Michigan, USA	The first W. Clarence Willson Memorial Trophy was awarded (girls basketball)
1997	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
1998	Flint, Michigan, USA
1999	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada	The first Marg Brokenshire Memorial Award was given (Hamilton person that "goes the extra mile")
2000	Flint, Michigan, USA
2001	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2002	Flint, Michigan, USA
2003	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2004	Flint, Michigan, USA
2005	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2006	Flint, Michigan, USA
2007	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada	The first Bill Sturrup Memorial Trophies were awarded (golf)
2008	Flint, Michigan, USA
2009	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2010	Flint, Michigan, USA
2011	Hamilton, Ontario, Canada	Flint wins its first road Games since 1959
2012	Flint, Michigan, USA	Flint wins third consecutive Games

References

↑ Whitwell, Carli. "CANUSA games kick off", The Hamilton Spectator, 2008-08-08. Retrieved on 2008-12-05.
1 2 "Canusa Games 2007". Retrieved 2008-11-30.
↑ Holmes, Kevin. "CANUSA Games celebrate 50 years", ABC12 News, 2007-05-09. Retrieved on 2008-12-05.
1 2 CANUSA Games History

Multi-sport events

Global

Olympics	Olympic Games Summer Winter Youth Olympic Games

Continental	African Games Asian Games Summer Winter Beach Indoor and Martial Arts European Games Pacific Games Pan American Games

Associations	Commonwealth Games Inter-Allied Games¹ Island Games Jeux de la Francophonie Lusophony Games Spartakiad of Peoples of the USSR¹ World Outgames

Communities	Croatian World Games Gay Games Islamic Solidarity Games Maccabiah Games Pan Arab Games Pan-Armenian Games Women's Islamic Games¹ World Indigenous Games

Disabled sport	Deaflympics Défi sportif IWAS World Games Armed forces Invictus Games Warrior Games Paralympic Games Summer Winter Special Olympics Summer Winter

Professions	Lumberjack World Championship Military World Games World Police and Fire Games

Youth and students	Asian Youth Games Australian Youth Olympic Festival Commonwealth Youth Games CPLP Games European Youth Olympic Festival Gymnasiade International Children's Games SELL Student Games Universiade World Interuniversity Games World Youth Games¹

Other sport	Dew Tour Mind Sports Olympiad SportAccord World Mind Games World Combat Games World Games X Games

Regional

Africa	African Youth Games African Games All-Africa University Games Central African Games¹

Americas	ALBA Games Bolivarian Games CANUSA Games Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Games North American Indigenous Games North American Outgames Pan American Games Parapan American Games South American Beach Games South American Games

Asia	ASEAN Civil Service Games ASEAN School Games ASEAN University Games ASEAN ParaGames Asian Beach Games Asian Games Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Asian Indoor Games¹ Asian Martial Arts Games¹ Asian Para Games Asian Winter Games Asian Youth Games Central Asian Games Children of Asia International Sports Games¹ East Asian Games Far Eastern Games¹ South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games West Asian Games

Europe	Black Sea Games EuroGames European Games European Sports Championships European Youth Olympic Festival Games of the Small States of Europe

Oceania	Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games Micronesian Games Pacific Games

Inter-continental	Afro-Asian Games¹ Arafura Games Arctic Winter Games AsiaPacific Outgames FESPIC Games¹ Indian Ocean Island Games Mediterranean Games Nordic Games¹ Pacific Ocean Games¹ Pan Arab Games

National

Americas	Canada Quebec Western Colombia United States amateur juniors seniors

Asia	Bangladesh China All-China Games National Games of China National Peasants' Games India Indian Empire¹ Indonesia Japan Malaysia Para Mongolia Pakistan Philippines National Games Batang Pinoy Palaro Singapore South Korea Summer Winter Thailand youth Vietnam

Europe	Albania¹ Nazi Germany¹ Netherlands Poland (youth) Soviet Union (youth)¹

Oceania	Western Australia (high school)²

NCSG³	Alabama California Florida Massachusetts Missouri Montana Nebraska New York North Carolina North Dakota¹ Texas Wisconsin

Historical¹

Pre Modern Olympics (in chronological order, 1900BC–1852AD)	Tailteann Games Panhellenic Games Ancient Olympic Games Pythian Games Nemean Games Heraean Games Panathenaic Games Roman Games Cotswold Olimpick Games Gog Magog Games Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games

Alternatives to the Modern Olympics	Aryan Games Friendship Games Games of the New Emerging Forces Goodwill Games Islamic Games Liberty Bell Classic People's Olympiad South African Games Spartakiad Workers' Olympiads

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