MetroMan
Senior Member
Wow.. I predicted we'd win on the first ballot but it wasn't even close:
Toronto: 33
Lima: 11
Bogota: 6
Toronto: 33
Lima: 11
Bogota: 6
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Toronto 2015 Pan American Games
- Thread starter FutureMayor
- Start date
Ummagumma66
Active Member
Congrats to Toronto!
avatarreb
Active Member
I'm sure it was the promise of Blackberries for all that won it for us. 
MetroMan
Senior Member
http://www.toronto2015.org has been down since the announcement. It looks like we're already getting attention.
I wouldn't be surprised if it were Torontonians trying to find out what the heck we won, now that we've won it. lol
I wouldn't be surprised if it were Torontonians trying to find out what the heck we won, now that we've won it. lol
MetroMan
Senior Member
It just occurred to me that the SkyDome will act as the Opening/Closing Ceremonies venue. Rogers has planned exterior renovations for the stadium but no specifics or schedule have been announced. It looks like this will fortify those plans and put a deadline on when they should be ready.
whatever
Senior Member
There's a whole slew of on again/off again projects around the city that this announcement should kickstart. I wish I had a crystal ball to see exactly what the impact of this will be
christiesplits
Senior Member
This is a good day for TO.
A solid boost for sports facilities and infrastructure projects with few risks on the scale of the Olympics.
Plus, the feds and province can't bail. They have to throw money at this thing and a big international sporting event is a primo PR opportunity to show how Ottawa and Queen's Park are committed to the GTA. Hey guys, I want you to prove it! Gimme gimme gimme!
A solid boost for sports facilities and infrastructure projects with few risks on the scale of the Olympics.
Plus, the feds and province can't bail. They have to throw money at this thing and a big international sporting event is a primo PR opportunity to show how Ottawa and Queen's Park are committed to the GTA. Hey guys, I want you to prove it! Gimme gimme gimme!
nfitz
Superstar
How can that be ... it's way too late to start now. The Spadina extension won't open until just before the games, and it's completed the EA, and most of the design. The Cherry LRT extension to the King streetcar is the plan there; perhaps a GO station on the Lakeshore line (though wasn't part of the bid that the athletes would be bused to events? What do they need a subway for?).
Though the Waterfront East LRT is supposed to go from Union to Cherry ... perhaps that will provide some incentive.
Torontovibe
Senior Member
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Finally, Toronto is a winner, awarded the 2015 Pan Am Games on a first-ballot vote Friday.
The victory seems all the more sweet since the city and region have lost two Olympic bids, two Commonwealth Games bids in Hamilton and couldn't even get a bid for the world expo off the ground.
"Our commitment, our pledge, our undertaking, our promise is to provide you with the best Pan Am Games ever," Premier Dalton McGuinty told delegates assembled for the announcement.
"It's an exciting time for so many of us here."
Although Toronto's bid backers arrived in Mexico this week both hopeful and optimistic, arguing the city had the best technical bid, organizers were reluctant to talk about a win – fearing it might jinx our chances.
Organizers took nothing for granted from offering Canadian treats like ice cream to voting delegates of the Pan American Sports Organization to running rehearsal after rehearsal for the final presentation.
And Toronto put on an upbeat, glitzy show that opened with athletes – gymnasts, volleyball players and a tennis player – bouncing into the hotel ballroom, followed by the 60-person strong delegation led by McGuinty.
Interspersed throughout the hour-long presentation were videos from athletes across the Western hemisphere emphasizing the benefits of Toronto including the world's fastest man, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who was in town last summer.
The final video was a moving tale of what might be – youngsters from across the Americas and Caribbean – training and growing up to compete in Toronto in 2015.
Toronto's presentation drew much applause – unlike Bogota's and Lima's which were more formal and featured wrap-up speeches from both their presidents – Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Peru's Alan Garcia.
Politicians who spoke for Toronto's bid – which is actually a southern Ontario bid stretching from St. Catharines to Oshawa to Barrie – included McGuinty, Mayor David Miller and federal sports minister Gary Lunn.
The $2.4 billion bid – which includes $1 billion for the athletes village in the West Donlands that will include a component of affordable housing after the games – include funding commitments from Ottawa, Queen's Park and participating municipalities. Ontario is promising to cover any deficits.
The two-week games, held every four years, and open to athletes from across the Americas and the Caribbean, will bring badly needed sports infrastructure to the region.
Toronto will get a new aquatics centre with two 50-metre pools and a separate diving tank plus a high-performance sports training facility at the U of T's Scarborough campus.
Hamilton is a big winner with a new track and field stadium that will be used by the Tiger-Cats and a new indoor velodrome.
But bid chair David Peterson always insisted the games were about much more than just sport.
Winning the games helps Toronto shed its "loser mentality," but the games give governments a firm deadline to complete promised projects including transit improvements like the rail link to the Pearson airport.
Lima played the sentimental card – arguing that Peru had never hosted before, and Canada has already had the games twice before in Winnipeg in 1967 and 1999, so it was their turn. Some delegates reportedly said Lima's organizers were pulling hard on the heart strings.
But in the end, it may have been problems with the 2011 games in Guadalajara that helped put Toronto over the edge. Construction has not even begun on some of the venues, especially the all-important athletes' village, and organizers were ordered this week to put up a multi-million dollar performance bond to ensure work gets under way.
The victory seems all the more sweet since the city and region have lost two Olympic bids, two Commonwealth Games bids in Hamilton and couldn't even get a bid for the world expo off the ground.
"Our commitment, our pledge, our undertaking, our promise is to provide you with the best Pan Am Games ever," Premier Dalton McGuinty told delegates assembled for the announcement.
"It's an exciting time for so many of us here."
Although Toronto's bid backers arrived in Mexico this week both hopeful and optimistic, arguing the city had the best technical bid, organizers were reluctant to talk about a win – fearing it might jinx our chances.
Organizers took nothing for granted from offering Canadian treats like ice cream to voting delegates of the Pan American Sports Organization to running rehearsal after rehearsal for the final presentation.
And Toronto put on an upbeat, glitzy show that opened with athletes – gymnasts, volleyball players and a tennis player – bouncing into the hotel ballroom, followed by the 60-person strong delegation led by McGuinty.
Interspersed throughout the hour-long presentation were videos from athletes across the Western hemisphere emphasizing the benefits of Toronto including the world's fastest man, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who was in town last summer.
The final video was a moving tale of what might be – youngsters from across the Americas and Caribbean – training and growing up to compete in Toronto in 2015.
Toronto's presentation drew much applause – unlike Bogota's and Lima's which were more formal and featured wrap-up speeches from both their presidents – Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Peru's Alan Garcia.
Politicians who spoke for Toronto's bid – which is actually a southern Ontario bid stretching from St. Catharines to Oshawa to Barrie – included McGuinty, Mayor David Miller and federal sports minister Gary Lunn.
The $2.4 billion bid – which includes $1 billion for the athletes village in the West Donlands that will include a component of affordable housing after the games – include funding commitments from Ottawa, Queen's Park and participating municipalities. Ontario is promising to cover any deficits.
The two-week games, held every four years, and open to athletes from across the Americas and the Caribbean, will bring badly needed sports infrastructure to the region.
Toronto will get a new aquatics centre with two 50-metre pools and a separate diving tank plus a high-performance sports training facility at the U of T's Scarborough campus.
Hamilton is a big winner with a new track and field stadium that will be used by the Tiger-Cats and a new indoor velodrome.
But bid chair David Peterson always insisted the games were about much more than just sport.
Winning the games helps Toronto shed its "loser mentality," but the games give governments a firm deadline to complete promised projects including transit improvements like the rail link to the Pearson airport.
Lima played the sentimental card – arguing that Peru had never hosted before, and Canada has already had the games twice before in Winnipeg in 1967 and 1999, so it was their turn. Some delegates reportedly said Lima's organizers were pulling hard on the heart strings.
But in the end, it may have been problems with the 2011 games in Guadalajara that helped put Toronto over the edge. Construction has not even begun on some of the venues, especially the all-important athletes' village, and organizers were ordered this week to put up a multi-million dollar performance bond to ensure work gets under way.
Kiwi
Active Member
Ron Lancaster Stadium? Lakeport Stadium? Lincoln Alexander Stadium? YAY!!! Finally Hamilton will get a new stadium.
MetroMan
Senior Member
I've been doing some quick researching texting friends @ Rogers. The SkyDome will get outfitted and renovated for the games.
Plans were already under way for displays on the exterior and getting the big concrete beast refreshed and brought up to date. Aside from the existing plans, a place for the flame needs to be built as well as improved facilities for the media. Most importantly, now there's a deadline to get them done.
Plans were already under way for displays on the exterior and getting the big concrete beast refreshed and brought up to date. Aside from the existing plans, a place for the flame needs to be built as well as improved facilities for the media. Most importantly, now there's a deadline to get them done.
MetroMan
Senior Member
News is falling like dominoes! The CN Tower's project to renovate its base and the park there have now been fast tracked!
Torontovibe
Senior Member
Moderation in all things, including moderation.
Sully SyedHomeAboutConcertsProjects« Is the Lockerbie Bomber innocent?Who is left in Mayor Miller’s corner? »What do Torontonians get out of the 2015 Pan Am Games?
The city of Toronto has put back an enthusiastic bid to host the Pan American Games in 2015. Its competitors: Bogota, Colombia, and Lima, Peru. (A fourth city, Caracas, Venezuela, bowed out of the competition in late 2008.) A decision is expected by the end of this year.
Perhaps unfairly, every Torontonian I have quizzed about the Pan Am Games has likened them to a budget Olympics. When asked to list any possible advantages that came to mind as a result of a Toronto bid win, all of those surveyed responded by stating that new sports facilities would be a potential plus.
So what new facilities does the city of Toronto stand to gain as a result of winning the 2015 Pan American Games? (Note: This list ignores all construction outside of City of Toronto borders.)
•A new residential development, the Pan American Village located upon the West Donlands downtown brownfields, suitable for the housing of 8,500 games participants
•The Canadian Sport Institute Ontario & Pan American Aquatic Centre, a 28,000 square-metre complex located upon the University of Toronto Scarborough campus
•The Pan American Field Hockey Centre, Ontario’s first permanent field hockey facility, adjacent to University College on the University of Toronto downtown campus
•The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, a research, medical and teaching lab/2,000 seat stadium, connected to Varsity Stadium on the University of Toronto downtown campus
Let’s examine each of these new constructions in detail.
Pan American Village
Location in city: Near intersection of Queen St. E and the Don Valley Expressway
Cost: $1 billion
Full brochure: Toronto 2015: Pan American Village
Toronto’s newly built, Pan American Village will offer up to 8,500 dedicated beds and be one of the jewels of the Games legacy. Located within close proximity to Toronto’s picturesque waterfront, iconic downtown and several major Games venues, the Village will incorporate an 18-acre park with a range of training facilities including a 50m pool, 400m track and running trails. The International Olympic Committee’s technical requirements will be met at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Village.
A recreation centre, 50m pool, 400m track, throwing and jumping area, basketball courts and a football pitch will all be part of the zone. The park will offer running and cycling trails that wind through an urban meadow with views of the Don River, Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. These features will be connected to the 18-acre Don River Park which will also be part of the Residential Zone.
Buildings will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and will focus on environmentally friendly development density and proximity, walkable streets, affordability, community involvement and diverse local uses.
The Residential Zone, in fact the entire Pan American Village, will be equipped for wireless access for personal computers and handheld devices.
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario & Pan American Aquatics Centre
Location in city: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Cost: $170 million
Seating capacity (Swimming): 10,000
Seating capacity (Fencing): 3,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
The fencing and swimming components of the Modern Pentathlon will be held at the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and the Pan American Aquatics Centre with 10,000 seats, two 10 lane, 50m pools and a significant 3,000 seat field house, all including the latest technology to support high performance summer sports.
Located on the grounds of the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto, the Pan American Aquatics Centre is a collaborative project between the University, the City of Toronto and the 2015 Pan American Games, which combines the needs of a major event, Canada’s largest university, and Canada’s largest city.
Pan American Field Hockey Centre
Location in city: University of Toronto Downtown Campus
Cost: Unknown
Seating capacity: 5,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
As Ontario’s first dedicated international field hockey venue, including two fields meeting international specifications, it will become a centre of excellence for the national and provincial teams as well as provide a dedicated site that will host all levels of the game from international events to grass root leagues and tournaments.
Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
Location in city: University of Toronto Downtown Campus
Cost: $50 million
Seating capacity: 2,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at the University of Toronto is a sports complex that will house research and teaching labs, a strength and conditioning centre, a state-of-the-art sport medicine clinic and a 2,000 seat multi-sport field house.
The venue will house the Futsal competition – an exciting fast-paced football sport sure to revel in the newly built facility, which is adjacent to Varsity Stadium, a site for the Football competition.
Total cost of hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games? The number we’ve been given is about $1.5 billion.
That concludes the new construction outlined in the Toronto 2015 bid book (PDF). Check out the official Toronto 2015 website for more information, and, please, leave a comment with your thoughts on Toronto’s bid below.
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe, shot with Canon EOS 20D at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
Sully SyedHomeAboutConcertsProjects« Is the Lockerbie Bomber innocent?Who is left in Mayor Miller’s corner? »What do Torontonians get out of the 2015 Pan Am Games?
The city of Toronto has put back an enthusiastic bid to host the Pan American Games in 2015. Its competitors: Bogota, Colombia, and Lima, Peru. (A fourth city, Caracas, Venezuela, bowed out of the competition in late 2008.) A decision is expected by the end of this year.
Perhaps unfairly, every Torontonian I have quizzed about the Pan Am Games has likened them to a budget Olympics. When asked to list any possible advantages that came to mind as a result of a Toronto bid win, all of those surveyed responded by stating that new sports facilities would be a potential plus.
So what new facilities does the city of Toronto stand to gain as a result of winning the 2015 Pan American Games? (Note: This list ignores all construction outside of City of Toronto borders.)
•A new residential development, the Pan American Village located upon the West Donlands downtown brownfields, suitable for the housing of 8,500 games participants
•The Canadian Sport Institute Ontario & Pan American Aquatic Centre, a 28,000 square-metre complex located upon the University of Toronto Scarborough campus
•The Pan American Field Hockey Centre, Ontario’s first permanent field hockey facility, adjacent to University College on the University of Toronto downtown campus
•The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, a research, medical and teaching lab/2,000 seat stadium, connected to Varsity Stadium on the University of Toronto downtown campus
Let’s examine each of these new constructions in detail.
Pan American Village
Location in city: Near intersection of Queen St. E and the Don Valley Expressway
Cost: $1 billion
Full brochure: Toronto 2015: Pan American Village
Toronto’s newly built, Pan American Village will offer up to 8,500 dedicated beds and be one of the jewels of the Games legacy. Located within close proximity to Toronto’s picturesque waterfront, iconic downtown and several major Games venues, the Village will incorporate an 18-acre park with a range of training facilities including a 50m pool, 400m track and running trails. The International Olympic Committee’s technical requirements will be met at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Village.
A recreation centre, 50m pool, 400m track, throwing and jumping area, basketball courts and a football pitch will all be part of the zone. The park will offer running and cycling trails that wind through an urban meadow with views of the Don River, Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. These features will be connected to the 18-acre Don River Park which will also be part of the Residential Zone.
Buildings will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and will focus on environmentally friendly development density and proximity, walkable streets, affordability, community involvement and diverse local uses.
The Residential Zone, in fact the entire Pan American Village, will be equipped for wireless access for personal computers and handheld devices.
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario & Pan American Aquatics Centre
Location in city: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Cost: $170 million
Seating capacity (Swimming): 10,000
Seating capacity (Fencing): 3,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
The fencing and swimming components of the Modern Pentathlon will be held at the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and the Pan American Aquatics Centre with 10,000 seats, two 10 lane, 50m pools and a significant 3,000 seat field house, all including the latest technology to support high performance summer sports.
Located on the grounds of the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto, the Pan American Aquatics Centre is a collaborative project between the University, the City of Toronto and the 2015 Pan American Games, which combines the needs of a major event, Canada’s largest university, and Canada’s largest city.
Pan American Field Hockey Centre
Location in city: University of Toronto Downtown Campus
Cost: Unknown
Seating capacity: 5,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
As Ontario’s first dedicated international field hockey venue, including two fields meeting international specifications, it will become a centre of excellence for the national and provincial teams as well as provide a dedicated site that will host all levels of the game from international events to grass root leagues and tournaments.
Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
Location in city: University of Toronto Downtown Campus
Cost: $50 million
Seating capacity: 2,000
Parking spaces: over 3,000
The Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at the University of Toronto is a sports complex that will house research and teaching labs, a strength and conditioning centre, a state-of-the-art sport medicine clinic and a 2,000 seat multi-sport field house.
The venue will house the Futsal competition – an exciting fast-paced football sport sure to revel in the newly built facility, which is adjacent to Varsity Stadium, a site for the Football competition.
Total cost of hosting the 2015 Pan Am Games? The number we’ve been given is about $1.5 billion.
That concludes the new construction outlined in the Toronto 2015 bid book (PDF). Check out the official Toronto 2015 website for more information, and, please, leave a comment with your thoughts on Toronto’s bid below.
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe, shot with Canon EOS 20D at 2009-11-06
By torontovibe at 2009-11-06
Last edited:
Juan_Lennon416
Senior Member
Do you think the Gardiner Expressway will most likely be taken down now?
GraphicMatt
Looking forward to a FRESH START for Toronto
The study to take down the small Eastern section between the DVP & Jarvis might pick up some speed, yes.