Hamilton - Pan Ams Games 2015

[SteelTown]

Pan Ams in 2015, anyone?
Talks are quietly under way about whether Hamilton has a shot at winning

July 24, 2007
Scott Radley
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 24, 2007)

Are we ready for another run at a multi-sport Games?

If you think so, get ready to jump on the bandwagon. If you don't support the idea, brace yourself. Because there's a chance Hamilton may throw itself into the battle for the rights to host the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Sometime in the next few days, the Canadian Olympic Association is expected to have a sense about whether a bid from Canada could be successful and whether it'd be worthwhile to back such an effort. If the answer is yes, things here could start to move quickly.

Within the past two months, discussions have quietly started about whether to make another go of it. In recent weeks, Mayor Fred Eisenberger had a meeting with Sport Hamilton head Gene Sutton to discuss the issue. No decision on how to proceed was reached, but the issue wasn't spiked. Instead, it was left, for now, in the hands of Tourism Hamilton.

"The big question is, do we want to go after a big multi-sport event or not?" Tourism Hamilton executive director David Adames asks.

Good question.

The reasons to go for it are pretty clear, just as they were for the two Commonwealth Games bids we launched in recent years. Most of the positives revolve around the new infrastructure it would bring.

Canada desperately needs new training facilities for its summer athletes. With Vancouver hosting the Winter Olympics in 2010 and Calgary having handled them in 1988, our winter sports infrastructure is set.

Adames says the COA would like to see those summer facilities established in central Canada where many of the athletes are from. Which is why Toronto has also been named as a possible bidder for the Pan Am Games.

But anyone who's been following the news lately understands the depth of Toronto's financial woes. And there are real questions about whether a city the size of Toronto would support anything less than the Olympics.

With hundreds of millions of provincial and federal dollars being thrown in, Hamilton could build new facilities for a fraction of the cost it would normally take. That's certainly enticing for a town that could use a boost.

Plus, unlike the Commonwealth Games that draws about 4,000 athletes, this event is more Canadianized with fewer fringe sports like netball and lawn bowling and it includes the United States which would likely generate greater interest and higher revenues.

But there are just as many reasons to turn and run from any bid.

The Games that are currently under way in Rio de Janeiro have attracted more than 5,600 athletes from 42 Western Hemisphere nations. But they've come in at a cost of $1.7 billion, more than three times what was expected when the bid was made in 2001. That's enough to give any taxpayer -- or their children and grandchildren who'll be paying the levies for the next several generations -- chills.

Adding to the cost would be the requirement that an entirely new bid strategy would have to be created. Due to the increased size of the event and the time that's passed, the Commonwealth bid book couldn't just have a new title page attached and be submitted. That's a costly venture by itself as evidenced by the fact that Hamilton's last bid cost roughly $425,000 to launch.

"We have a plan that's a lot different," Sutton says.

There's got to be concern that Hamilton, too, might let out a collective yawn at such a Games. The Pan Ams have fallen from their once lofty status in recent years to the point where there's been almost no TV coverage of this year's competition. For an event that relies heavily on ticket sales to break even, apathy could be a significant problem.

Perhaps more than anything though, winnability is key. Eisenberger says there's some real hesitation about jumping back into bidding for a multi-sport Games after the depressing experiences of the last two go-rounds.

"In all sectors, there's some bid fatigue," he says.

Bids aren't due for another three years but Lima, Peru, Bogota, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela have already declared their candidacies for the 2015 Games. However, some experts predict that with the 2003 Games in the Dominican Republic, this year's in Brazil and 2011's in Guadalajara, Mexico, it's North America's turn to host, meaning Hamilton would have a decent chance of winning. And the mayor thinks if we jump into the fray once again, our number eventually has to come up.

"We're due," Eisenberger says.

[raisethehammer]

so this is bigger than the Commonwealth??

I'm not sure if I want us attempting to land any games, but it would make sense to try Commonwealth one more time.
We've got the history of being the birthplace of the games and Canada is due to host again.
We'd be a long shot with Pan-Am I would think. Especially since US cities can host too.
Why start over again. We lost twice with Commonwealth. I would think that with a good bid it would be ours to win.

[SteelTown]

^ It's about 5 times bigger than Commonwealth Games. Compare to 5,000 athletes to 1,000 athletes.

Hamilton has a good chance with 2015 Pan Ams. Now with 2018 Commonwealth Games well who knows what they'll do, perhaps select Halifax again lol.

[raisethehammer]

according to this article above the Commonwealth has 4,000 athletes, PanAm has 5,600.
So it's bigger, but not 5 times bigger.

[SteelTown]

Ops yea my mistake!

[the dude]

i'm surprised that eisenberger's interested in this sort of thing given that he's supposedly a fiscal conservative. honestly, i really don't get it. it seems the city is just randomly pursuing anything and everything right now: world expo, commonwealth, pan am, etc. the bottom line is that few people have any clue what the pan am games is.

it's really hard to make money on these sorts of events as well. winnipeg hosted in '99 and lost money. major american networks won't cover it, not to mention the fact that they never send their best athletes. in the end, the question is whether or not this is a city that can afford to lose money. i would say noooooooo way! if we need sporting facilities then let's harass the government and private sector for those dollars. i'd be more apt to support the commonwealth games because it began here. otherwise, i'd have to be convinced that we'd come out in the black.

[SteelTown]

Interest in Pan Am Games
City doesn't have to declare intentions until 2009 for 2015 Games
Kevin Werner, Mountain
(Jul 27, 2007)

Hamilton and Toronto officials have indicated an interest in pursuing a bid to host the 2015 Pan American Games, said the Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer.

If a Canadian city wants to pursue a bit, said Chris Rudge, then the community must formally indicate its interest to the COC, where the committee will assess the application.

"We know there seems to be an interest in Hamilton," said Mr. Rudge, speaking from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the site of the 2007 Pan American Games. "Hamilton had good bids in (for the Commonwealth Games). There was considerable disappointment in (losing out) in the last Commonwealth Games."

Mr. Rudge said the COC told Pan American officials Canada may be interested in pursuing a bid.

He said a Pan American Games, and an Olympic Games bid will be on the COC's agenda at its September meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"We have not made any condition to go in any direction," he said.

Despite what a few other countries have done, Canada does not have to declare its intentions to host the games until 2009, he said.

Tourism Hamilton Executive Director David Adames said there have been "preliminary talks" among city officials for Hamilton to make a bid to host the multi-sport event.

"It's part of developing our sports tourism strategy," said Mr. Adames.

Mr. Adames said city officials have been discussing if the city should host such high profile, multi-sports events as the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the World University Games and the recently announced Youth Olympics.

"We know there seems to be an interest in Hamilton...had good bids in for the Commonwealth Games."

Chris Rudge

"The question comes, can we do it? If it makes sense, we should pursue it," he said.

Jackie DeSouza, COC director of communications, confirmed no Canadian municipality has approached the committee expressing an interest to bid for the games.

But Mr. Rudge said interest to host the games has been "heard" from Hamilton, Toronto and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area. He pointed to the Hamilton and GTA areas as good possibilities to host the games, especially when you include the Golden Horseshoe region.

"There is a fair process in place (and) if there are two or more cities, there will be a competitive process," he said.

Mr. Adames said depending upon if the Canadian Olympic Committee wants to make a bid, there remains time for Hamilton to debate the issue with its community partners, including city council.

There is some talk that it could be North America's turn to host the games by 2015.

The 2003 games were in the Dominican Republic, while this year's event is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2011 games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

So far, Lima, Peru, Bogota, Columbia, and Caracas, Venezuela have declared their intentions to submit a bid.

"I wouldn't speculate on that," said Mr. Rudge, acknowledging how politics can get in the way of awarding bids. "But it certainly appears North America is next in the rotation."

He didn't believe the U.S. is interested in hosting a games, concentrating instead on landing an Olympic bid for Chicago.

The 2007 Pan American Games have attracted 5,600 athletes from 42 nations. The Commonwealth Games attract about 4,000 athletes.

Hamilton has lost two failed Commonwealth Games bids, including the 2006 bid to host the 2014 games when Halifax was awarded the right to host the the games in Canada. Soon after, though, the Nova Scotia provincial government pulled out of the Commonwealth Games citing the high financial costs. The decision scuttled Canada's proposal to host the games.

In 2003, Hamilton officials looked on in disbelief as the 2010 Commonwealth Games went to New Delhi.

Mr. Adames said this week there are Hamilton officials who remain hesitant to get involved in another bid process.

"There are some folks who are leery about going through the process again," he said.

Mr. Adames said there is also the possibility the city could make a bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The only multi-sport games the city has made a bid for is the 2010 Can-Am Police Firefighters Games. About 3,000 competitors participate in about 45 events, which is expect to generate about $10 million in economic benefits for the city.

The city is looking at hosting the International Children Games, and, said Mr. Adames, "there are opportunities for single sporting events."

http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/...ws_842072.html

[SteelTown]

Pan Am Games bid
No sympathy votes coming Hamilton's way

August 01, 2007
Scott Radley
The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 1, 2007)

It's going to be at least September before the Canadian Olympic Committee starts seriously considering whether any city from this country should be bidding for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

"At the earliest," says COC Chief Executive Officer Chris Rudge. "If then."

Meaning those in town who are anxious for Hamilton to begin making a pitch to host the Games -- and equally those dreading the thought of yet another multi-games bid -- will have a while longer to sit and wait.

In recent weeks, informal talks have begun among some local sports and tourism officials about the possibility of launching a campaign to win the Games. And lately, that circle has included the COC which has received several inquiries about the possibility.

"There has been a lot of chatter coming out of the Hamilton environment," Rudge says.

While Caracas (Venezuela), Lima (Peru), and Bogota (Colombia) have already thrown their hats into the ring -- and given what Rudge described as rather sophisticated presentations in Rio at the recently completed Pan Ams, indicating their preparations are well under way and likely to be well-funded and highly organized -- we're the only Canadian city to have expressed an interest to this point. Rudge says he's received no other informal or preliminary calls from around the country about the possibility of hosting the Games.

On top of everything else, a new wrinkle has emerged that will almost surely complicate the decision about whether to go for it or not.

Until recently, the due date for bids was 2010, a year after the International Olympic Committee announces its choice for the site of the 2016 summer Games. This was important because the success or failure of an American city's Olympic bid could have an impact on whether Canada was seen to have a good shot at winning the Pan Ams.

If Chicago wins, the U.S. would be seen as unlikely to be awarded a second multisport games in such close proximity making Canada a favourite. If Chicago loses, some other U.S. city would have to be considered the front-runner for the lesser event. And Mayor Fred Eisenberger has already made it clear that winnability is perhaps the most important criterion in deciding whether to enter the fray.

But the timetable for Pan Am bids has now been moved up to 2009, meaning this city would have to commit to a bid and absorb the costs of such an effort well before it knew how good or bad its chances were to grab the big prize. Especially since it would have to have its bid together by sometime next year to win the domestic competition.

"You'd have to get on it pretty quickly," says Tourism Hamilton Executive Director David Adames.

Put it all together and instead of being able to rely on a reasonably educated guess about our chances based on other outside influences, jumping in may be little more than buying a lottery ticket and hoping the number comes up.

That could scare off more than a few votes on council. As could the cost.

While Rudge says he has no idea what a bid package would cost -- Hamilton's second Commonwealth Games bid came it at something around $425,000 and that was just for the domestic competition indicating this would almost certainly cost more -- the COC would do what it could to discourage huge spending.

"We would try to minimize the cost of that bid," he says.

As for the sense among some here in Hamilton that this city is owed something for its two previous Commonwealth Games bids that both ended in controversy and disappointment, Rudge says that's not going to carry any weight this time. Mostly because it was the Commonwealth Games Committee rather than the COC that was behind those efforts.

"I don't think any sense of guilt would accrue to our organization," he says.

In other words, don't expect any sympathy votes to come our way if we jump in because they aren't coming.

[SteelTown]

Playing in the big league
Hamilton could be a key figure in a Golden Horseshoe bid for the Pan-American Games

The math isn’t good, the city’s two biggest sports venues decayed and outdated. And zero firm answers.

But sundry interests are at work, upfront and in the background, to solve the most pressing problem — the little bit of shelf life the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has remaining.

Ticat president Scott Mitchell put that issue squarely into play recently with a challenge to the city.

The cost to renovate Ivor Wynne Stadium could be almost as much as a new stadium and would remain a limiteduse facility in a residential area.

A new pigskin palace has plenty of obstacles, particularly in the forum of public opinion where it would be seen as $200-million minimum for a place to play nine football games a year.

But there is an ongoing effort at coming up with a plan that would make the City of Hamilton’s financial hit on a stadium much smaller.

Mitchell believes a new stadium can come together either as a stand-alone project or in the context of a big multisport event for southern Ontario.

“Certainly a major Games would really help but I think there’s a case for it in terms of economic development and how this province has fallen behind other parts of Canada in providing sports infrastructure.”

With the current government’s emphasis on health and activity, a multipurpose stadium could be part of that expanded infrastructure.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is considering whether it should aim Canada toward a summer Olympics and Pan-American Games, the latter setting the stage for the former.

Ontario has not held a major Games since Hamilton’s 1930 British Empire Games (for which Civic Stadium, later renamed Ivor Wynne, was built), so there is strong sentiment by COC officials and national sports organizations to push for either or both in
the Golden Horseshoe.

The COC has quietly pulled together an informal task force to look at the options for southern Ontario.

A member of that task force and a source close to the COC confirmed a scenario like this: A Pan-Am Games could be a southern Ontario event with Hamilton in a central role.

Then, with infrastructure in place, trained administrators and a strong volunteer army, a Toronto-based Olympics would be pursued. But a stadium would be the jewel for Hamilton, with improvements to Copps Coliseum too.

Two sites come to mind, Confederation Park and the past Commonwealth Games bid location, Barton and Bay streets, which was touted as a revitalization project that links the waterfront with the city’s core.

The key to a Games bid this time is that the private sector has to take the lead. Principals in the most recent bids believe the public is exhausted by city efforts in that regard. It will take highprofile business leaders levering money first from higher levels of government to win public favour.

The alternative isn’t pretty. The Ticats would make noises about leaving or worse, suspending operations, and that could prompt the end of the Canadian Football League.

As for Copps, Research in Motion magnate Jim Balsillie could grasp control of an NHL club, and move it here, sparking an overhaul of the city’s entertainment facilities at private expense.


This new look for Ivor Wynne Stadium was an architect's design included in Hamilton's Commonwealth Games bid.

[SteelTown]

Pan Am Games bid on tap for the Golden Horseshoe

Nov 29, 2007 04:30 AM
Dave Perkins

Having twice fallen short of landing an Olympics, could Toronto be happy as part of a Pan Am Games? That's what the Canadian Olympic Committee will find out, having decided to move forward with a bid for the 2015 Pan Ams that could become a Golden Horseshoe Games, with Toronto as part of it.

With non-professional sports facilities in southern Ontario so lacking, in both quality and number, the COC recognizes the only way to get something built in Canada's largest province is to first obtain an event, then get governments to contribute.

"We're looking seriously at a bid for 2015. We had a board meeting last weekend and the COC has endorsed moving forward,'' Chris Rudge, CEO of the COC, said yesterday. "We'll have a broader statement in about a week. When we begin the process, we give all cities across the country a chance (to bid). That's a given. But we do have to think a little more strategically and we acknowledge the number of facilities needed in the Golden Horseshoe and what would be the best way to get them.''

The plan, still very much in its infancy, is to run a Games from St. Catharines to Markham, with events also taking place in Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga – Mayor Hazel McCallion already is an enthusiastic supporter – and Vaughan. Toronto would be part of it, likely for soccer and baseball, opening and closing ceremonies and whatever else comes about.

Rudge said there already are "a considerable number of interested parties,'' but agreed federal government support is critical. "We have to get the feds onside.''

Ontario badly needs sports facilities, the pools and pitches that produce future generations of Olympians. Ontarians used to make up more than half of Canada's Olympic teams; now it's less than one-quarter. That number will only fall as Quebec, Alberta and now B.C. forge ahead with more resources and better playpens.

Obtaining events and then finding the money has become the way to go. Look at Scheme-O Field, the downtown soccer stadium, which taxpayers supplied (at vast profit to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) after the world under-20 tournament was obtained.

"Historically, that seems to be the best way to get facilities,'' Rudge said, "although I'm not sure they (governments) should think that way.''

Timing for this is as right as it will ever be, given Toronto's successful staging of the Grey Cup game and festivities – and we have been remiss in not giving Brad Watters his due as the event's general manager.

Why the Pan Ams and not a Commonwealth Games? For one thing, U.S. participation in a pre-Olympic year. You might draw a few tourists, media coverage and big-name athletes from down below. Plus, Canada's best Summer Games athletes can get a home game before the 2016 Olympics, which might be in Chicago, provided the U.S. stops annoying the rest of the sporting world with its entrance requirements.

Voting will be in 2009 and Caracas, Venezuela; Bogota, Colombia and Lima, Peru already have stated their intentions. Money and details have yet to be worked out, but a Golden Horseshoe bid is certainly something to think about.

[flar]

That means it would basically be Toronto hosting. Nothing in it for Hamilton except maybe cycling.

[SteelTown]

Pan-Am games coming to Hamilton?

HAMILLTON (AM900 CHML) - Hamilton may become part of a Golden Horseshoe bid for the 2015 Pan Am games.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has endorsed a plan that would include communities from St. Catharines to Markham with events taking place in Hamilton, Oakville and Mississauga.

Mayor Hazel McCallion is already on board.

Spokesman Chris Rudge the CEO of the Olympic Committee says the Pan Am Games would be a better target than the Commonwealth Games because 2015 is a pre-Olympic year and the games would draw large numbers of Americans.

The decision on those games will be made in 2009 and Rudge says the key is to get the federal government on side.

[DC83]

This wont really do anything for Hamilton's image, and not much for our sporting infrastructure. This wouldn't get a new stadium built. Nor would it help Hamilton become a stand-alone destination like it wants to be.
It'll just reinforce the fact that Hamilton is (in fact) a bedroom community for Toronto.

[markbarbera]

While it may be true that this bid may not result in a lot of new infrastructure cash flow, it can't be described as a bad thing for Hamilton. If nothing else, it will bring people in to visit Hamilton for whatever events take place here, and gives us a chance to showcase our city (and rake in some tourist dollars as well).

Since it is a bid for the Golden Horseshoe area, including St. Catherines, there really is no substance to the assertion that somehow this presents participating cities as simply bedroom communities to Toronto.

[raisethehammer]

actually, there's talk that it might result in a smaller stadium - 30,000ish being built here. TO will get the big one of course (as if they need any more).

[SteelTown]

As long this bid includes a new stadium for Hamilton I'll support it. Though I would think the 2018 would be a really good chance for Hamilton.

[SteelTown]

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.

[SteelTown]

Pan Am bid talks positive
Backers of 2015 Games buoyed after meetings

Jan 31, 2008 04:30 AM
Jim Byers
City Hall Bureau

Supporters of a southern Ontario bid for the Pan American Games in 2015 say they're more optimistic than ever following a key meeting in Mexico and a talk with Mayor David Miller.

The games could cost $1.5 billion or even $2 billion, according to Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge, and it could be a challenge to get the federal Tories to pry open their wallets for a Golden Horseshoe bid that would stretch from Niagara to Toronto to Barrie, and possibly into Durham Region.

But Rudge said this week he's still exploring the issue. It could go before the COC's executive committee next month or in early March and to the full board in April.

"I would say all the pieces of the puzzle are moving in the right direction," he told the Star.

Rudge and Pan Am bid supporter Doug Hamilton, a Toronto lawyer who worked on the city's failed 2008 Olympic bid, briefed Miller last week on tentative plans for a 2015 Pan American bid.

The Olympic committee also sent president Michael Chambers and 1996 Olympic bid leader Paul Henderson to Mexico to meet with Mario Vazquez Rana, head of the Pan American Sports Organization.

Rudge said both sessions were encouraging.

Miller seems positive, he said.

"We didn't even come close to getting to money issues. It was very generic. But I would say the mayor was very pleased with the impact (last year's) under-20 soccer tournament had on the city and also the dragon boat races."

Rudge said early signals have been positive from Queen's Park, which bid supporters say would have to take the lead financial role.

"The big challenge is going to be the federal government, making sure we have a plan they can buy into. I think the key is finding a federal minister from this region to jump on the bandwagon, and there aren't a lot of Conservatives in Toronto."

Lima, Peru; Caracas, Venezuela; and Bogota, Colombia are said to be interested in staging bids for the 2015 Games. Formal bids for those games are due Jan. 31, 2009.

[SteelTown]

Area bid to host 2015 Pan Am Games on 'level playing field'

January 31, 2008
John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 31, 2008)

A Pan American Games for southern Ontario took another step forward this week with reassurances that one of three South American cities does not have the inside track for the 2015 Games.

That's the message Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers brought back from a meeting with the president of the Pan American Sports Organization, Mario Vazquez Rana.

"We wanted to make sure there was a level playing field, that we didn't go ahead at great expense" and learn PASO had unofficially anointed one of Caracus, Venezuela, Bogota, Colombia, or Lima, Peru, said COC chief executive officer Chris Rudge.

The idea of a Toronto-Hamilton-Golden Horseshoe bid was well received, Rudge said, noting the bid concept is gathering speed leading to a general assembly of PASO in the fall and a vote in 2009 on candidate cities.

Rudge has stayed in touch with Ticat owner Bob Young, president Scott Mitchell and Sport Hamilton head Dr. Gene Sutton, a COC member, as a game plan began to emerge. The Ticats could benefit from a new stadium if the Games were secured.

He also met with Toronto Mayor David Miller and received an enthusiastic response.

The COC concept would use a Pan Am Games staged on a wide footprint from Markham to St. Catharines as a basis for a potential Summer Olympics bid.

Rudge noted no other cities in Canada have expressed interest in the Pan Am showcase, which was last held in Canada at Winnipeg in 1999.

He believes there is a recognition across the country that this area, with a third of the nation's population, badly needs the kind of sports facilities a Pan Ams could deliver.

Ontario has not hosted a major multi-sport event since Hamilton started the Commonwealth Games movement with the 1930 British Empire Games. By 2010, western Canada will have staged two Winter Olympics, three Commonwealth Games and two Pan Am parties.

Rudge said a key step now is the backing of federal and provincial governments.

[SteelTown]

Decision near on Pan Am Games bid
Golden Horseshoe has good shot at 2015 event, Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive says

Mar 19, 2008 04:30 AM
Jim Byers
City Hall Bureau

A Canadian bid for the 2015 Pan American Games is southern Ontario's to win or lose. And a provincial decision on whether to back the bid could be made in the next three weeks.

Senior provincial officials have been poring over preliminary plans for a bid, and a high-ranking source said they like the idea of a bid that could mean new and improved sports facilities in Toronto, Mississauga, Markham and Niagara Region, and perhaps Durham Region.

"By early April, we hope the province can either stand up and say, `Yes, we're going forward,' or `No, we're not,'" said Toronto lawyer and Pan Am backer Doug Hamilton.

He said provincial officials are sitting down with municipalities and talking about the facilities already in place and those still needed should the 2015 games be held in southern Ontario.

"There's no requirements for the cities or the province to put up any cash at this stage, but the province is trying to get a better handle on potential capital and operating costs."

The Canadian Olympic Committee originally had planned on asking all Canadian cities if they'd be interested in staging a bid.

But COC chief executive Chris Rudge told the Star his group has opted to put all its Pan Am eggs in the Golden Horseshoe's basket. "It's somewhat unusual for us to do it this way, yes, but we recognize that southern Ontario has 30 to 35 per cent of the population of Canada and is one area of the country that is dramatically underserviced as far as sports facilities and infrastructure."

Rudge said the COC would like to know whether the province is interested in a bid before its April 12-14 board meeting in Calgary.

Queen's Park doesn't want to be seen focusing purely on Toronto, but they're said to like the optics of a Golden Horseshoe games.

No single city has the financial wherewithal to put on a sporting event like the Pan Am Games, which feature more than 30 sports and more than 5,000 athletes from 42 countries. But the plan being considered involves Toronto, Mar-kham, Hamilton, Mississauga and other cities. Rudge has said it could cost $1.5 billion or even $2 billion to stage the games in Ontario.

Having seen Toronto lose a pair of Olympic bids and Hamilton come up short in quests for the Commonwealth Games, provincial officials want to make sure a Pan Am bid is winnable before they proceed, a source said. COC representatives met with high-ranking Pan Am officials earlier this year and came away feeling Canada has a great shot at 2015.

Lima, Peru; Bogota, Colombia; and Caracas, Venezuela are believed to be interested as well.

Toronto Mayor David Miller said recently that it's too early to comment on a potential bid, although sources suggest he's in favour provided there's no major financial risk to the city.

Formal bids will probably need to be in by next January, with a vote to take place later in 2009.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/347641