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2015 Pan American Games

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Template:Pan American infobox

The 17th Pan American Games are to take place July 10 to July 26, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Over 40 countries from the Americas are expected to participate.[1] The host city bidding process began in October, 2008, with three interested cities submitting formal bids in Acapulco, Mexico prior to October 12, 2008, at the Pan American Sports Organization annual meeting.[2][3][4]

On November 6, 2009, Toronto was announced as the host city for the games by the Pan American Sports Organization at approximately 4:40 PM EST. Toronto earned 33 votes while contesting candidate cities Lima, Peru received 11 votes and Bogotá, Colombia received 7. The games will be held from July 10 to July 26, 2015 in venues located in Toronto and its surrounding municipalities.[5]

Host city selection

While there is no formal rotation policy, the previous games will have been held in Central America/Caribbean (2003), South America (2007), and North America (2011). It was suggested that bids from Canada or the United States may have an edge.[6] The United States did not bid so as not to interfere with its ultimately unsuccessful 2016 Olympic bid.[7] Nevertheless, South American candidates lobbied as heavily as Canada.

On November 6, 2009 in Guadalajara, Mexico, the candidate cities made their final presentations to the Pan-Americano Sports Organiztion (PASO). After the first round of ballots, the host was announced by PASO as Toronto.[8]

2015 Pan American Games bidding results
City NOC Round 1
Toronto  Canada 33
Lima  Peru 11
Bogota  Colombia 7

Candidate cities

Having twice bid for hosting the Olympic Games[4], Toronto, along with other communities in the area known as the Golden Horseshoe, bid for the 2015 Pan-American Games.[9] The budget is set at $1.43 billion. The cost-sharing plan stipulates that Ontario and the federal government each contribute 35 per cent of the funding, or $500 million each. The city of Toronto, other hosting partners, and games revenue are expected to pay the remaining 30 per cent. All levels of government approved the bid. The federal government approved the bid on August 7, 2008.[10]

A new stadium for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is a possible benefit, and St. Catharines has expressed interest in joining the bid, particularly due to their already-existing championship rowing facilities.[11] Canadian Olympic Committee president Michael Chambers met with Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vazquez Rana in January 2008 and was assured PASO had not unofficially anointed another candidate.[12]

Former Ontario Premier David Peterson has been appointed head of the bid committee. Performing in a voluntary capacity, he has experience as the head of Toronto's previous bids for the Olympics.[13] The bid was formally launched on October 2, 2008; the bid head is Jagoda Pike. The bid logo is a stylized maple leaf in green, red, and blue.[14]

The capital city coincided its announcement of candicacy at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro.[16] Interference from the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis between Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela seems to have been averted.

With a budget of $950 million if the bid is successful,[17] Bogota is touting its ideal year round spring-like weather and its central geographical position in the Americas. Eighty percent of the required sporting facilities are already in place; new facilities will need to be built for tennis, track and field, and the Athletes' village. Also, the venues would be only six kilometers apart.[17]

Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas also touts other cultural and sporting attractions in the city, which include over 50 museums and 313 km. of bike paths.[18] He did acknowledge Bogota's altitude of 2,650 metres was a disadvantage.[17]

In sizing up the competition, Moreno added, "Toronto also has excellent infrastructure - they have an advantage on us in some aspects. But some venues there are 30 kilometres apart". If chosen, Bogotá will be the second Colombian city to host a Pan American Games, after Cali (1971)

Capital of Peru. Also announced its candidacy at the 2007 Games.[16] President Alan Garcia is enthusiastically pushing for upgraded sports infrastructure and athlete training. Should Peru not win the bid, they will pursue a bid for the 2019 edition and possibly the Olympics in the 2020s.[19]

The head of the Peruvian committee, Carlos Paz Soldan, said Peru deserves to host as a country which has never hosted before. Both other cities are in countries which have previously hosted.[18]

Authorities announced plans for construction of new sport facilities and the remodeling of existing ones, such as the 45,000 seat Estadio Nacional,[20] which recently hosted the Copa América 2004.

Cancelled bids

This capital city hosted the 1983 Pan American Games and already has the Estadio Olímpico de la UCV in place. It announced its candidacy at the 2007 Games.[16] President Hugo Chavez also endorsed the bid, but financial support was not guaranteed.[22] On October 10 Caracas dropped out of the race without comment;[23] PASO sources suggest they withdrew to avoid spliting the vote among three South American candidates.[18]

As of April 2009, Birmingham mayor Larry Langford was discussing a bid, but the deadline to apply had already passed.[24]

Venues

The venues will be divided into three zones - Central Games Zone (Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Richmond Hill and Markham), West Games Zone (Hamilton, Ontario) and East Games Zone (Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering). In addition there will also be venues located outside the zones in Barrie, St. Catharines, Caledon, Minden and Welland.[25]

Central Games Zone

West Games Zone

East Games Zone

  • Pickering Horse Centre - Modern Pentathlon
  • Oshawa Skeet and Gun Club - Shooting (Outdoor)
  • Ajax Community Centre - Shooting (Indoor)
  • Durham College - Boccia
  • General Motors Centre - Boxing
  • Lakefront West Park - Softball
  • Abilities Centre - Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis

North Games Zone

  • Caledon Equestrian Park - Equestrian
  • Hardwood Ski and Bike (Barrie) - Cycling (Mountain Biking)
  • Minden Wild Water Preserve - Canoe/Kayak (Slalom)
  • Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course (St. Catharines) - Rowing
  • Welland International Flatwater Centre - Aquatics (Open Water Swim) and Canoe/Kayak (Sprint)

References

  1. ^ On your mark for Pan Am bid
  2. ^ Bidding for Pan Am Games no pipe-dream
  3. ^ Ontario Premier Launches 2015 Pan Am Bid In Beijing
  4. ^ a b Pan Am Games destined for Mississauga?
  5. ^ http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/02/18/how-a-toronto-pan-am-games-would-look.aspx
  6. ^ Pan Ams in 2015, anyone?
  7. ^ City off list for 2016
  8. ^ "Toronto wins 2015 Pan Am Games". Toronto Star. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  9. ^ Ontario makes a bid for 2015 Pan-Am Games
  10. ^ Federal Government Supports Southern Ontario 2015 Pan Am Bid
  11. ^ Row, row, row the Pan Am Games to St. Catharines
  12. ^ Area bid to host 2015 Pan Am Games on 'level playing field'
  13. ^ Chairman Announced For Southern Ontario 2015 Pan Am Bid
  14. ^ Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Bid Officially Launched
  15. ^ No tiene competencia (Spanish)
  16. ^ a b c Rugby, racquetball will be played at 2011 Pan Am Games
  17. ^ a b c Bogota 2015 Will Present To Odesur Assembly
  18. ^ a b c Three Remaining 2015 Pan Am Bid’s Make Presentations
  19. ^ Lima Peru Bids For 2015 Pan American Games, Considers Olympic Bid
  20. ^ Lima applied to host Pan American Games in 2015
  21. ^ Siente que puede hacerlo (Spanish)
  22. ^ Venezuela To Bid For 2015 Pan American Games
  23. ^ Venezuela Drops Out Of 2015 Pan Am Games Race
  24. ^ "Langford pushing for 2010 Indy Car event at Barber". Birmingham Business Journal. 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  25. ^ "Sport Program & Venue Plan". Retrieved 2009-11-11.
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