In what the Toronto Star says are the strongest signals yet that a local bid for the 2015 Pan American Games will soon take place, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller spoke positively about a southern Ontario bid.
McGuinty said a southern Ontario bid “is worth taking a good look at. We haven’t seen any details yet (and we) don’t exactly know what it would involve, but we think it’s something that we should closely examine. Not only would it help us further put Toronto and the region on the international map, it could also act as a catalyst for some important new…infrastructure and the like, so we think it’s worthwhile taking a look at”.
Mayor Miller added, “if the provincial government wants the Pan Am Games for Ontario, and they think it’s good for Ontario (and) they are going to pay for it and sign all the guarantees, of course Toronto would be a part of it. You can’t have a bid without Toronto” reports the Star.
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) CEO Christ Rudge called the public comments a “very positive” sign for a Pan Am Games. The COC’s board is meeting in Calgary starting April 11 and officials want some form of provincial endorsement, reports the newspaper. No money is needed yet but Rudge has said the Games could cost $1.5 to $2 billion.
Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently said he’s open to the issue, and sources close to the bid reportedly say they’re optimistic about help from the federal government.
Meanwhile Hamilton’s role in a southern Ontario Pan-American bid is gathering steam. Sports activist Dr. Gene Sutton said Tuesday, “I’m pumped, this is as good a bid proposed involving Hamilton has looked at this stage of the Game”.
Sutton, a board member of the COC, said the Ontario government’s lead role and the COC designating southern Ontario as Canada’s bid site gives the 2015 initiative a jump-start.
David Adames, the director of Tourism Hamilton said, “it’s positive on all fronts, though there are still lots of questions to answer”. Adames will ask Hamilton city council Monday for authorization to keep up Hamilton’s pursuit of a piece of the Games.
