This year, the Christy Fraser Memorial Invitational meet will be in person once again, with more than 1,000 gymnasts expected to compete in the annual event at the 91原创 Events Centre.

Because of the pandemic, last year鈥檚 event was a virtual version that took place at the end of February, with athletes recording their routines on video for judges to review.

READ ALSO:

This year, Christy鈥檚 mom, Lory Fraser, said with tentative approval from health authorities, organizers were registering athletes with the promise of refunds if the event had to be called off.

鈥淲e were told we could go ahead with the meet, but there was a chance the rug could be pulled out from under us,鈥� Fraser told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淲e were sitting on the edge of our seats.鈥�

Conformation finally came in the last week of January, something a delighted Fraser called 鈥渞eally good news.鈥�

The 2022 Memorial is scheduled to take place over three days from Friday, , at the 91原创 Events Centre in Building B.

It will operate under COVID-19 restrictions, including a requirement that all who attend must be fully vaccinated, Fraser said.

Fraser said there will also be about 90 elite gymnasts, who had qualified for the B.C. Winter Games, but didn鈥檛 have a chance to compete because the games were called off.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e all elite level,鈥� Fraser said.

It will be the second in-person meet to be hosted by the 91原创 Gymnastics Foundation since the pandemic, following a December 2021 out-of-cub meet that drew about 360 athletes from Whistler to Chilliwack 鈥� Zones 3, 4, and 5 鈥� to take part in the 2021 91原创 Invitational and B.C. Games Trials .

READ ALSO: 91原创 Gymnastics Foundation hosts first out-of-club competition since pandemic hit

To honour the memory of Christy, who passed away in August of 1992 at the age of 12, 91原创 Gymnastics Foundation began the Christy Fraser Memorial Invitational meet.

Christy has been described as a dedicated gymnast who possessed the ability to overcome adversity with a cheerful smile and a 鈥榯ry again鈥� attitude.

In addition to awards for first, second and third place finishes at each Christy Fraser Memorial, Lory Fraser handpicks a dozen or so young gymnasts who embody the same mannerisms and attitude of her daughter 鈥� that is, supportive, determined and displaying a positive attitude 鈥� and awards them trophies.

In the first year of the event, about 170 athletes competed in a gymnasium at 91原创 Secondary.

Over the years, it has grown to include more than 20 different clubs from across B.C. and Alberta with athletes ranging in age from five to 17 to compete in recreational, provincial and elite levels.