A pep rally for Zone 1 athletes who will participate in the 2004 Summer Games later this month was held at the Weyburn Comprehensive School on Sunday. The Games will be held in Weyburn from Sunday-Saturday, Aug. 8-14.

Officials also officially opened the new $500,000 athletics track next to the Comp and announced the winner of the medal design competition.

The athletics track features an eight lane, recycled rubber, all weather surface. New runways have also been built for the long jump, pole vault and javelin events, as well as new pads for the discus and shot events.

Summer Games coordinator Chantelle Ernst said the inside of the track will feature a fully-irrigated soccer field with the original nearby footfall field also to get the benefit of the irrigation.

The track and other runways were built through cash and in-kind donations raised from local industry, businesses and individuals. Ernst said the facilities are an important legacy from the Summer Games for the community.

After the track was opened, the Games board of directors led a group of In Motion participants and all the competitors from Zone 1 at the pep rally on a walk around the track.

The Summer Games mascot, called Legacy, was on hand at the noon barbecue and the opening ceremonies to help add to the growing excitement.

The pep rally for athletes from Zone 1 included orientation and accreditation for athletes. Participants received the uniforms they will wear during Games events.

The winning medal design, chosen from a junior and senior high school competition in Weyburn, came from Grade 8 St. Michael Junior High student Kallie Colbow. The design was unveiled at the track opening and an enlarged version presented to the City of Weyburn.

Ernst says the winning design embodies the beauty of wheat sheaves, which are a mainstay of southeast Saskatchewan and "symbolize growth, prosperity and success."