The 29th Jeux de l'Acadie will be held in Nova Scotia for the first time in the history of the Games.

For the first time in its history, the Finals des Jeux de l’Acadie will be held in Nova Scotia, from June 27 to July 1st. The region will host the largest gathering of young Acadian and Francophone athletes in the Atlantic provinces.

The first Jeux de l’Acadie were held in 1979 with the goal of initiating Maritime Francophone youths to sports. Among the targets were the promotion of Acadian language and culture, leadership development and the construction of sports facilities.

L’Association des radios communautaires en Atlantique(ARCA) will play an important role during the 2008 Finals which will be held in Halifax. Volunteers and personnel from l’ARCA member-stations: CKJM in Chéticamp, CIFA in Clare, CKRH in Halifax and CJRM in Labrador City, will be on site to ensure the broadcast of the Finals’ greatest moments, the Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as special shows during the event.

The first show, on Friday June 27, from 5 to 6 pm, will highlight the athletes’ arrival, the Games’ launch and conversations with representatives of the Organizing Committee, the athletes, chefs de missions and others.

The Opening ceremonies will air on Saturday June 28, beginning at 7 pm.

Sunday and Monday, June 29 and 30, we will have live shows with the day’s up-date on competitions and scores between 5 and 6 pm.

The Closing ceremonies will air on Tuesday July 1st, beginning at 2 pm.

In addition, beginning at 11 am on Saturday June 28, a two-minute hourly report will air each day on member stations of l’ARCA’s and also community radios in N.B. members of ARCANB.

This year, all the athletes, chaperones and chefs de missions are invited to a special celebration in their honour at Grand-Pré, National Historic Site.

The nine delegations will travel by bus to the site where they will be met by Parc interpreters. The event, made possible by Heritage Canada, will allow the athletes to participate in learning activities held at various sites in the Park. The day will close with a musical show featuring Grand Dérangement.

Along with the sports’ banners, note the MacDonald’s Prix de l’amélioration, won by Nova Scotia in 1990, 1992, 2005 and 2007; Co-op Stores Prix de l’amitié, presented to Nova Scotia in 1995 and the Prix de l’esprit sportif, won by different Nova Scotia teams in 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2007.

For more information: www.jeux2008halifax.ca