Pros have a throw at ultimate Frisbee championships in Winnipeg

Teams of young Frisbee players are showcasing their skills in Winnipeg this week at the 2015 Canadian Ultimate Championships.

Players from 28 junior teams are in the city for the tournament, which got underway Monday morning in Maple Grove Park.

On Aug. 2, ultimate Frisbee was officially recognized as an Olympic sport.

• Frisbee recognized as Olympic sport

ShannonKleysen,team captain for Master of Flying Objects, said theannouncement was a big milestone for her.

"I would love to be able to represent Canada in the Olympic games, especially for ultimate. It's a huge passion of mine that is super-close to my heart,"saidKleysen, whoseteam defeatedTeam Miscellaneous 15-0 on Monday.

Corey Draper, a veteran player and coach and director of operations with the Manitoba Organization of Disc Sports, said the announcement will give the sport a real boost.

"I think there's been obviously some misconceptions about what our sport is or was," he said.

"I really think that's faded over the last five years, I certainly don't have to spend as much time explaining anymore. But really it validates the sport as a real sport."

Players and coachesin Winnipeg are hopeful thenew recognitionwill result in more funding for the sport in Canada.

"It opens up a lot of doors for us. So for starters, there will be opportunity in certain areas for funding at the national and world level; even, in some cases, the local level," Drapersaid.

"It starts to get us more inclusion in more multi-sport games," he added."We've already been involved in the World Games as ultimate for a few events now. That's going to be expanded, hopefully."

The championships in Winnipeg take place Aug. 10 to Aug. 16.Games will belive-streamed starting on Tuesday.