The benefits of the Games on human development are enormous. Sports involve young people in their communities and provide them with healthy outlets for their natural vitality. Sports allow the young to join organized structures and inspire them to achieve their personal best in other areas of their lives, including school.
Sports also plays a positive role in addressing discrimination and gender inequality.
The opportunities for improving cross-cultural understanding are immense. Most importantly, sports promote national unity, by bringing people together to work on a common goal and to share in the pride of being a Canadian. The 1994 Games will be part of an exciting new focus on women in sport by providing new opportunities for women to participate. An estimated 85 additional women athletes will compete at the Games in new cycling and shooting events. In addition, the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society is developing an enhanced program for training women coaches and officials as part of the sports legacy of the 1994 Games.