Toronto Gains Canadian Government Support To Host 2015 Pan Am Games

August 8, 2008 7:23 a.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - The federal government will support a Toronto City bid to host the 2015 Pan American Games, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday evening. Harper made the announcement on the evening before the Olympic Games open in Beijing.

Harper confirmed Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is in Beijing. McGuinty will lobby Pan American Sports Organization members in China for the Summer Games.

If the city wins the bid, it will not only involve Toronto, which will serve as the site of the regional sport event, but also municipalities in Niagara, Durham and Lake Simcoe.

Following Harper's backing, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told the Canadian Press, "I am pleased that in our discussions with Ontario that we've been able to get to this place where the federal government can join in the support... It's good news for the Greater Toronto Area for sports facilities and it's good news for Ontario. It's good news for Canada."

McGuinty had earlier threatened to cancel his trip to China if he failed to secure federal support. Other rival cities for hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games will be in Beijing armed with government backing.

Toronto is expected to spend at least $1.77 billion to host the Pan Am Games, which would bring back $2 billion in economic activity and create 17,000 jobs. The city is seeking $600 million financial support from Ottawa. Flaherty did not indicate to McGuinty how much support the federal government will offer. He wants to negotiate the amount with Harper.

In pushing for Toronto to host the games, McGuinty said he wants Ontario - whose capital city is Toronto - to "come of age" in amateur sports. He said the Pan Am Games would be a good start to reach that goal.

About 10,000 athletes and coaches are expected to attend the Pan Am Games, which is open to all countries in the Americas and held every four years. The last host was Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and the next one is Guadalajara in 2011. Toronto's likely competitors for the 2015 bid, which will be announced in 2009, are Bogota, Caracas and Lima.