November 6/09 18:06 pm - Toronto Wins 2015 Pan Am Games

Posted by Editor on 11/6/09
 

The southern Ontario bid for the 2015 Pan American Games was successful in the first round of balloting about an hour ago in Guadalajara, Mexico.  The GTA (Greater Toronto Area) bid beat out Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia.  The event is scheduled for July 10-26, with the Para events August 7-14.

Cycling will be a part of the Games, with BMX, Road, Mountain Bike and Track all part of the submitted bid.  The total cost for the bid is set at $2.4 billion, including the Athlete Village.  This winning bid means that southern Ontario is scheduled to receive a velodrome, with Hamilton Region the stated location - however, that is still not set in stone.  Our understanding is that the bid included a budget of $11.4 million for a velodrome, which is very much on the low side for a permanent, world-class facility.  The Road and BMX events will take place in Toronto (with a permanent BMX track to be built), and Mountain Bike at Hardwood Hills, north of Barrie.  Also, the bid does not include any cycling disciplines for the Parapan (Paralympic) Games that will immediately follow the Pan Am Games.

Despite these concerns, it is still a day to celebrate the first major Games for southern Ontario.

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