Thousands of athletes, officials, and onlookers had a final party Sunday afternoon to officially close the 2010 BC Summer Games.

Three-time Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley, 26, emceed the ceremony paying tribute to Langley Township, 2,812 volunteers, and the 2,461 athletes who travelled from around the province to compete in 23 sports.

It was the first time a Paralympian emceed a Games event.

Township Mayor Rick Green, speaking to a packed Langley Events Centre, said the community was honoured to play host and share a role in the athletic careers of the young people.

And it was a member of the host community, Grade 9 Langley Secondary student Georgia Ellenwood, who was called up to the stage - in front of thousands of her fellow athletes - to accept the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence.

"This is really exciting," she said, seconds after accepting the award from Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman.

The award recognizes major sport accomplishments, future potential and ambition in sport, and leadership - and it carries with it a $2,500 bursary.

Ellenwood dominated her events in track and field, winning gold medals in high jump, long jump, 200-metre hurdles, and along with teammates, the Fraser Valley 4 x 400m - and set BC Games records in the high jump and long jump along the way.

"I performed well," Ellenwood said, "but I didn't get any PBs [personal bests]."

Ellenwood said her golden Games will propel her track and field endeavours.

"This makes me a lot more confident, but it also puts pressure on myself to perform at the same level."

A handful of other athletes won BC Athlete Voice and Team BC Future Leader awards, including Jacob Houlton, a Langley athlete competing in athletics (track and field); and basketball player Anna Frenkel of Kamloops; syncronized swimmer Robyn Bartle of Nanaimo; Surrey indoor volleyball player Nicole Laniuk-Etter; and Morgan Flynn, a field hockey player from Castlegar.

hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com