Horseshoe toss for Games
Southern Ontario bid would have great shot at landing 2015 Pan Ams, inner circle claims
Dec 06, 2007 04:30 AM
Jim Byers
city hall bureau
The province of Ontario is giving serious consideration to a Golden Horseshoe bid for the 2015 Pan-American Games, and local politicians appear eager to join the cause.
Details are far from complete, but events could stretch from Barrie to St. Catharines, with key roles for Toronto and Hamilton.
The bid would aim to upgrade sports facilities in the region and isn't an attempt to someday land the Olympics, said Pan Am bid supporter Doug Hamilton.
Hamilton, a lawyer, was a major figure in Toronto's unsuccessful attempt to host the 2008 Summer Olympics and York Region's failed bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Hamilton said Golden Horseshoe cities need everything from swimming pools to field houses that can accommodate basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.
"This bid is all about sports legacy," he told the Star. "It's not about tourism, it's about sports facilities."
A budget wouldn't come until down the road, but bid supporters say they're estimating $1 billion might do the job for a Golden Horseshoe games.
The federal government would be asked to pony up money, as would Queen's Park and some municipalities.
But because local cities already have a lot of arenas and other facilities, the capital costs shouldn't be high, Hamilton said.
Provincial officials say it's too early to make a public comment, but one Queen's Park source said the government likes the idea at this early stage, especially since it's geared to the entire Golden Horseshoe and not focused on Toronto, which would be a tougher sell politically in other parts of Ontario.
"The province likes the opportunity, but I think they'd want to be sure we could win," said an Ontario government insider.
The Pan Am Games are like a mini-Olympics for 42 countries in the Americas and Caribbean. There actually are more events than in the summer Olympics – roughly 36 as opposed to 28 – but fewer athletes take part: about 5,500 attended this year's games in Brazil.
Venues don't need to be as large as for the Olympics, which should help keep costs down, Hamilton said. Toronto deputy mayor Joe Pantalone likes the concept.
"Anything that attracts people here from the Americas can only be good," he said yesterday. "It would be a good thing to do and a fun thing to do."
Pantalone cautioned, however, that the city is strapped. "When you only have pennies, you have to be careful where you spend them ... if anyone is expecting any money, that's not likely."
The bid is at a very preliminary stage, but officials suggest the Rogers Centre could be used for opening and closing ceremonies, as well as baseball. BMO field at Exhibition Place would be home to some soccer events, while the Air Canada Centre is a natural for basketball.
Markham is talking about building a national sports institute and a Pan American Games would be a perfect catalyst, officials said. Hamilton desperately wants to replace or refurbish Ivor Wynne Stadium, home to the CFL's Tiger-Cats, while Mississauga is eager to claim some sports for its own, said Pan Am bid supporter Paul Henderson, who led Toronto's 1996 failed Summer Olympics bid.
Henderson has long complained about the lack of amateur sports facilities in southern Ontario.
"Everything is focused on winter sports," he said. "We have no swimming pools or field hockey pitches. We're not going to get the Olympics in my lifetime, but the Pan Ams give you the facilities you need without the same costs."
Rio de Janeiro, which hosted this year's Pan Ams, is believed to have spent more than $1.5 billion, although local officials suggest some of that was to pave the way for Rio's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The 2011 Games are slated for Guadalajara, Mexico, so Henderson said it should be North America's turn in 2015.
The last Pan Am Games here were in Winnipeg in 1999. But three South American cities may also be hoping to host in 2015.
Bid supporters here say they want to sound out leaders of the Pan American Sports Organisation early next year.
If they are receptive to a bid, the Canadian Olympic Committee probably would seek bids from across the country, said COC head Chris Rudge.
However Rudge recently told the Star's Dave Perkins that the COC realizes southern Ontario has a pressing need for sports facilities.
A COC vote probably would take place next April. If a bid went ahead, it would likely be put to a Pan Am vote in late 2009.