October 26, 2012

Pan Am Games preparation on track

TORONTO

There are now less than 1,000 days left before the opening ceremonies of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

“We’re exactly where we should be,” said Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) chief executive officer Ian Troop in a news release.

“We’re on time and on budget or under budget on our capital projects. We’re fanning out throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe talking up the opportunities that come with hosting this kind of once-in-a-lifetime event.”

In the last month, ground has been broken on the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus and at the Markham Pan Am and Parapan Am Centre, which will host water polo, badminton and table tennis.

Plans have also been unveiled for the Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium, with construction expected to begin in late 2012.

More announcements are planned throughout October and November.

“Ontario led the bid to host the Games to stimulate the economy, create jobs and build much-needed sport infrastructure for our athletes to train and compete at home,” said Charles Sousa, Ontario minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games.

“The ‘People’s Games’ have also accelerated projects, such as the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront through the construction of the Athletes’ Village and the Air Rail Link, which will benefit our children and grandchildren.”

The Toronto Games budget is an equal 35 per cent between the governments of Canada and Ontario, 20 per cent from municipal government and 10 per cent from Games revenue.

The Games are expected to generate more than 15,000 jobs.

The Games will kick off on July 10, 2015 with the opening ceremony of the Pan Am Games.

For more information, visit www.toronto2015.org.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

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