Athletes Skip Games Due To Flu Fears

Athletes Skip Games Due To Flu Fears

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 at 13:02

 

 

H1N1 flu virus concerns are keeping some Saskatchewan First Nations athletes at home.

 

A few bands, including the Cote First Nation, will not be attending next week’s First Nations Summer Games, hosted on the Onion Lake Cree Nation.

 

Danny Whitehawk, with the Yorkton Tribal Council, says that the reasons why some athletes are not attending the Games include parental concerns and a need to look after themselves and their home First Nations.

 

A couple of bands that are not sending athletes have had confirmed cases of the flu virus, Whitehawk says, “and they didn’t want to put anyone else in jeopardy.”

 

Others are concerned that athletes could bring the virus home from the Games.

 

Games organizer Kelly Villeneuve says the Onion Lake band council has provided extra funding to ensure a safe environment at the Games.

 

“The chief and council at Onion Lake, they did give us probably another $20,000 for our budget to put in more washrooms, more hand sanitizers, more washing stations, as well as some extra showers,” Villeneuve says.

The Games website says organizers are expecting 4,000 athletes.