Can-Amera Games

Logo for the Can-Amera games in 1992

     Currently with the Olympics going on in London right now it reminds me of a time where I was involved with something similar to the olympics but on a more local level.  It was called the Can-Amera games.  

     Can-Amera Games was similar to the olympics but only for those living in Saginaw Township, Michigan, USA and Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.  One year the games would be held in Cambridge and the next year it would be held in Saginaw.  People from ages 9 to adult could participate.  There was something for everyone:  track and field, biking, tennis, archery, trivial pursuit, monopoly, euchre, chess, boxing, soccer, swimming, baseball/softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, wrestling, and many other events that slip my mind.  A participating player would stay with a host family and generally that host family would have a person playing in the same sport but not always.  A player from the visiting team usually would bring something from their country as a gift to their host family.  Awards and medals were given to first, second and third places and everyone received a complementary medal for particiapation.  Late in the winter season little booklets would be inserted in the newspaper in reguards of the Can-Amera Games, which activities to try out for, qualifications and other information needed to participate.  It was something we would look forward to. 

     My brother had participated for a few years and I remember a few Canadians staying at our house but I can't remember if it was for basketball or track and field.  I just remember, at a young age, that these young men were from another country and to me that was amazing.  I just couldn't wait until it was my turn to participate. 

     The year was 1991.  I was 14 and was granted permission to participate.  We got the booklet in the paper and I looked it over to which event I would be interested in.  Then I found it.  Something not too difficult and fun.  Table tennis!  I called the number and talked with the coach, Mr. Sission.  He said practices were already starting and I didn't need any experience.  Practices were at Sherwood School about 4-5 blocks away from my house. 

Sherwood Elementary School, Saginaw, Mi.           

     I rode my bike to Sherwood School and made my way to the gym.  About 8 to 10 tables were lined up with a few people already engaged in a game.  The coach greeted me and he pointed me to a table and called out for his son, who was around my age, to practice with me.  As I looked around I realized I was the only girl on the team.  Perhaps it was affirmitive action that got me on the team for being a female. I don't know.  I didn't think much about it.  I grabbed my new paddle and proceeded towards the table.  His son (can't remember his name) met me there.  I have seen it played but I have never played before.  I have played tennis but I figure it cannot be much different than that.  He served the ball.  The ball came towards me.  Then with a strong hand I whipped the ball over to the other side of the gym totally avoiding the table.  Not good on my part.  It took me a while to realize what a tender hand is needed to hit the little ball.  After a while I got used to it and I was doing okay.  I wasn't the best but I was learning.  Another boy about my age also joined the team and the three of us would take turns practicing against each other.   Every now and then an adult would join us for playing partners while practicing.  It was fun. 

     The games were held in Canada that year.  I was excited to travel to another country.  At that time we didn't need passports.  We just needed our birth certificates and a signed medical form and a parents signature.  On Friday every team that was playing met at the Saginaw township hall and boarded several busses to take us over to Cambridge.  We were 4 to 5 hours from Cambridge.  The ride was uneventful.  We crossed at the Bluewater Bridge into Canada.  Canada didn't look that different.  I think I was expecting some great change in climate and scenery but it is rather the same. 

Saginaw, Mi is located near the where the thumb meets the fingers near the Saginaw Bay over by Lake Huron.  Cambridge, Ont. is located on the map. 

  
     When we finally arrived we hooked up with our host families.  The coaches son stayed with his dad in a nearby hotel.  The other boy and I stayed with another young table tennis player, James.  He reminded me of a blonde Screech on the show Saved By The Bell.  I don't remember much of what their house looked like or if they fixed any special meals but it was in town and our room was more like an enclosed porch. 

     That night was the opening ceremony.  It was complete with a torch runner.  We were in some arena that I think was also a hockey rink.  Parents and citizens of Cambridge were up in the stands as they called out each activity and the players entered the arena.  When they called out table tennis we proudly marched around the arena and gathered in the middle with other players.  It was really thrilling. 

     The next day our host family drove us to a school where the table tennis tables were all set up.  I looked around and realized that there was not a female playing on the Canadian side either.  I was the only girl on both sides.  I won some and I lost many.  I tried to convince James to lose the game for my favor.  He did let me win one but over all he won the best 2 out of 3.  In between matches we would watch other players play and root for our team.  Other times we would walk around outside.  One person pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.  I noticed the name on it.  Players Cigarettes.  I never thought Canada of having different namebrands from the US. 

     Saturday night there was a dance for all those particpating in the Can-Amera games.  Back to the arena we all went.  I don't remember much of the music or the dance.  The part I do remember is when we were about to leave.  James and I couldn't find the other boy who was on the US team who was staying with us.  We searched everywhere.  James' parents pulled up to pick us up and sadly we had to tell that we lost an American player.  He was very upset that the one boy was lost.  We searched around some more.  The crowd was thinning out and still no luck.  We drove back to their place so we can get the coaches number at the hotel to tell him.  I looked at the dash.  It was reading 95-100.  Wow!  We were going fast!  I was thinking he really is upset.  It wasn't until after I got home that I realized their vehicles are set at kilometers per hour and not miles per hour.  The dad was only going about 60 to 65 miles per hour.  The dad calls the coach.  We sat quietly on the couch.  The dad hangs up and a relief look crosses his face.  The other boy went off with the coach and his son to spend the night at the hotel.  The boy told the coach that it was okay but he never told anyone about it.  We all were thankful that he was safe and sound. 

     The next day was the last day.  The closing ceremony took place.  Medals were given out to those who placed.  Everyone received a bag of goodies with a smaller medal for participation.  I still have mine saved in a box of memories that I collected along the way in my life.  I remember I gave my host family a coffe mug with images of Saginaw on it.  I don't remember what I received.  It was the memories of it all that I cherished the most.

     A year goes by and I get a little bit better at playing table tennis.  I enter the Can-Amera games again.  This time the games were held in Saginaw, Michigan.  My mom and a few of her friends entered that year for Trivial Pursuit.  I remember her studying thousands of trivia cards and off to practice with other teams.  James came and stayed with us that year.  He stayed an extra week and we took him to see Mackinac Island and to our family cabin.  His family came and picked him up.

     That was the last time I entered Can-Amera games.  Other interests took my attention.  I never heard from James or anyone else on the table tennis team.  As I googled search Can-Amera games I was sad to find out that the games were officially canceled in 2006 due to lack of participation.  From a mlive blog in 2008 Saginaw Township Supervisor Tim Braun (who used to be one of my school counselors or vice principal) was trying to organize a para-olympic games.  I am not sure how well that took place as I no longer live in the area. 

     It may have not been THE olympics but this was the next best thing and a neat experience I got to have in my life.  And I am thankful for that.