Lory Fraser has the trophies for 2024 all ready to hand out to young athletes at the Christy Fraser Memorial Invitational gymnastics tournament on the Family Day weekend.

These won鈥檛 be going to the kids that are the fastest or most artistic in their categories. There鈥檚 still the competition awards.

No, Lory reserves the honour of presenting the special trophies on behalf of her late daughter, Christy. the young gymnast died in August of 1992 鈥� at the age of 12, after contracting E. coli.

Like every year, Lory, 72, is at the tournament Feb. 16 to 19 watching the young people and awarding about two dozen trophies based on who exhibits the best qualities of her late daughter 鈥� supportive, determined and with a positive attitude.

鈥淭he kids that are cheering on their teammates, or comforting them when they think they鈥檝e done something wrong,鈥� Lory explained.

Lory said Christy never got the chance to find out how far she could have gone in gymnastics but it wasn鈥檛 for lack of determination. Christy, the only girl in a family of five children, couldn鈥檛 get enough of gymnastics.

鈥淪he would have gone seven days a week if I could have afforded it,鈥� Lory quipped. 鈥淪he was competitive but not obsessive.鈥�

Christy did other sports (softball) and Brownies but it was gymnastics that she enjoyed the most.

And Christy never forgot about the people around her, Lory noted. She thinks her daughter might have become a teacher because of her compassion for people.

It was her gymnastics coach who suggested a tournament in Christy鈥檚 honour.

This is the 31st year of the memorial invitational tournament.

鈥淲e鈥檙e about 1,100 [registrations] again this year,鈥� Lory noted.

In the past, most of the gymnasts were from this province and western Canada. Sometimes clubs from farther attended. Last year included a club from Ontario.

But the different grading systems meant only Canadian clubs could attend.

The marking rules were changed, meaning there are clubs from south of the border now able to compete. There is one American club registered for 2024.

鈥淲e鈥檙e able to go international,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were able to invite clubs from the U.S.鈥�

Hosted by the (LGF), the event draws athletes ranging in age from five to 17 years to compete in recreational, provincial, and elite levels.

When the invitational began, it was first held in the 91原创 Secondary gymnasium and featured 170 athletes.

Through the years, it has grown to include dozens of clubs.

The public is invited to attend. Adult tickets are $18 per day or $31 for the entire competition. Family passes (two adults and two youths or seniors) will cost $51 per day or $76 for the weekend. Youth and senior tickets are priced at $13 per day or $21 for the entire event. Children five and younger are admitted free. The gymnastics foundation earmarks $1 from each admission to the Community Outreach Fund, which provides free programming to youth who would not be able to afford it.

An Elite Canada gymnastics competition is also taking place concurrent with the CFMI on Feb. 17 to 20 at the 91原创 Events Centre, and there鈥檚 some crossover with athletes competing in both. More than 200 top athletes will be competing at the Elite Canada event.

Tickets allow spectators access to the CFMI as well as the Elite Canada events.