Gold Cup Parade 2015 celebrates sports

Thousands of people lined the streets of Charlottetown today to share one of the highlights of summer on P.E.I.: the Gold Cup parade.

Sports was the theme this year. Gymnastics, curling, bowling, soccer and softball were represented, as was taekwondo.

From the big leagues, the Charlottetown Islanders and the Island Storm greeted fans.

Organizers estimate about 1,000 people many of them young athletesrode on the 90 floats.

Hannah Ives, a martial artist, hopes it encourages Islanders to keep fit.

"There's a lot of kids really inactive now with technology and stuff, so it's really good to advertise that there's stuff out there for kids of any age," she said.

Special Olympians John Paynter and Jenna Smith served as grand marshals.

"It's amazing. Sports connects everybody, same as music, so it's really awesome," Smith said.

The competitive side of sports will continue this weekend with the running of the Gold Cup and Saucer harness race Saturday night.