Some of the best young athletes in all of Ontario are in our region this weekend, competing for gold.

They're at the top of their sport, whether on the ice, on the hill, or on the court. And they’ve come to our region to compete.

“It can't get much better than this,” says Nathan Dolpe. “It's just the best of the best in Ontario, which is sick. It's awesome.”

Since Thursday, Ontario Winter Games athletes have been competing in events across Muskoka and in Simcoe County, from Oro-Medonte and Midland to Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Huntsville. Athletes ages 11 to 22 are here from across Ontario to compete. But for the lucky ones, like Chris Murphy, they get to compete right in their hometown.

“It's probably the best feeling in the world,” says Murphy. “I don't have to drive six hours to get here and all my friends and family and parents are here to cheer me on, which is a really great feeling.”

But for those who travelled to get here, local businesses are happy they made the trip.

“It helps show off our community in the shoulder season and people come back,” says volunteer Trish Conley-Knight. “They get such great hospitality. They want to see what we look like when it's white out and when it's blue and green in the summer.”

Athletes from four para-sports are competing in the Ontario Winter Games, which includes sledge hockey. For Barrie resident James Turner, participating in sledge hockey and competing for a gold medal is about more than just the sport.

“It's amazing,” he says. “You can relate on so many levels where you can't related to the average person and they understand your struggles and we're all working together to reach a common goal, which is to be the best sledge hockey player you can be.”

That's a goal Tyrone Henry has as well. He was injured four years ago in a car accident and says watching sledge hockey during the Vancouver Paralympics inspired him to work hard and get strong.

“Having a goal set in the hospital to get on the ice as quickly as possible was big because I pushed to get fit quicker and I was able to rejoin friends quicker and get on a team faster,” he says.

The Ontario Winter Games wrap up tomorrow when gold, silver and bronze medals will be handed out in 27 sports.

The next Games will be held in 2016. Organizers haven't decided where those games will take place and they are still accepting bids from any community interested in playing host.