The various provincial games of 1972 combined to form the idea of staging major multi-sport games in Western Canada, based on the highly demanding rules and regulations of international Games, which would attract the greatest number of Western Canadian athletes for open competition. By 1973, the final refined idea was a major program that would provide Western Canadian athletes with an opportunity to train for and participate in high standard competition as well as create an interest in some lesser-known sports on the part of younger athletes.