N.B. athletes rest under ice during Canada Games heat wave

Things are heating up at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg this week.

Bruce Macfarlane, media liaison for Team New Brunswick, says athletes are dealing with both extreme heat and a lack of wind as they compete.

Temperatures over the weekend sat at about 31 C, but felt more like 40 C.

"It is really hot here [and] we're going to face the exact same conditions today," Macfarlane said in an interview with Information Morning Fredericton on Monday.

Thundershowers were expected throughout the day, so things might become a shade cooler for the athletes, who arrived in Winnipeg last week.

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About 400 people are representing New Brunswick at the 17-day Canada Games, including athletes, coaches and managers.

Between events, organizers have been telling athletes to find water and shade.

Macfarlane said men's mountain bikers were so hot they covered themselves in Ziploc bags filled with ice, until they started their event.

Lack of wind

Sailors in Gimli, a community north of Winnipeg, couldn't compete on Lake Winnipeg until late afternoon on Sunday because of the lack of wind.

"Weather is part of any competition," Macfarlane said. "Baseball teams face rainouts, rowers are used to delays … but it's really hard with the heat."

Despite the heat, Macfarlane said spirits are still great and when they're not competing, the athletes are busy cheering on their teammates.

Throughout the games, events are live streamed at the Canada Games website. 

"Our teams are doing really well and they're looking forward to their competition," he said.

The Canada Games will continue until Aug. 13. The games include 16 sports, and this year's edition marks the 50th anniversary of the competition.