Representatives of the three cities bidding for the 2015 Pan American Games are in Guadalajara, Mexico, anxiously awaiting the Pan American Sports Organization’s (PASO) vote Friday on which city will host the 2015 Pan American Games.
Toronto’s bid team is reportedly wooing the delegates with Canadian food items such as mini-doughnuts and red and white ice cream topped with candy-coated chocolates stamped with a 2015 logo, reports the Toronto Star.
David Peterson, chair of Toronto’s bid said, “all these things are part of the creativity you bring to the bid process”. He added, “the whole team is working very hard and will continue to do so right up until the final decision on Friday. We can’t afford any sense of lack of momentum or any sense we’re slowing up or any sense that we don’t care”.
Two Mounties in formal attire were on hand having their photos taken with the delegates.
The bid team is busy rehearsing the Toronto presentation to PASO, participating in the PASO Congress, and meeting with delegates.
Meanwhile the Toronto Star reports Bogota Colombia had on hand Juan Valdez, the symbol of Colombian coffee, as espresso was served. And Miss Colombia, Michelle Rouillard Estrada, was there to greet the delegates at a luncheon hosted by Bogota.
Lima Peru’s team served its famous pisco liqueur at its booth while touting the merits of its bid. Peru’s first female Olympian Rosario Vivanco said, “I think it would be transformational for the city and the people to have the games in Peru”.
Lima is reportedly playing the sentimental card noting that Peru has never hosted such an event.
And Peru’s president Alan Garci Perez is expected to take part in the city’s final presentation on Friday.
Colombia’s vice president Francisco Santos reportedly emphasized to the delegates that “the nation and the city are behind this effort”. Santos and Bogota’s Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas reaffirmed at the luncheon the strong commitment that both national and city governments support Bogota hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Pan American Sports Organization President Mario Vazquez Rafia spoke by telephone with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez who reiterated his support for the Games.
Toronto’s representation includes Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Toronto Mayor David Miller, and Gary Lunn, federal minister of sport. Canada’s Prime Minister will not be there.
