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Ropers get Olympic call

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Members of Nelson’s Rhythm Ropers skipping team will be performing with the B.C. Yukon All-Star team during the Olympic Games.

Nelson’s Rhythm Ropers skipping team will have a rare opportunity to perform for in Vancouver during the two weeks of Olympic Games.

The B.C. Yukon All Stars skipping team, which is made up of many of the Rhythm Ropers as well as member of other clubs in the province, were accepted to be among the 50 licensed buskers who will perform three hour-long shows daily in Yaletown where an expected 10,000 pedestrians are expected to be wondering the street each hour.

The licenses were issued by the Yaletown Business Association who operate separate from VANOC to offer free local entertainment on their streets.

A handful of jumpers from Victoria and Abbotsford who will perform with the Rhythm Ropers, but most the group will be made up mostly of senior Nelson skippers.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for our club,” said Rhythm Ropers Head Coach Brenda Reid. “None of them had Olympic tickets and they wouldn’t have had an opportunity to be in Vancouver if they weren’t selected to busk.”

The money earned from their shows will be split among the clubs. The Nelson girls will put theirs towards travelling to the world skipping competition later this year.

While they’re in Vancouver, accommodations for the skippers were donated by a Vancouver family who had a secondary suite in their home.

Five Rhythm Ropers will travel to Vancouver to perform for the first week, then they’ll be replaced by seven other jumpers.

They’ll perform their all-star routines.