TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Sunday, October 14 officially marks the 1,000-day countdown to the TORONTO 2015 Games which officially kick off on July 10, 2015, with the Opening Ceremony of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
To mark the milestone, the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee(TO2015) launched a special Games-related "1,000 Days to Go" (http://www.toronto2015.org/assets/files/pdf/PanAm_Toronto2015_1000days_en.pdf) newspaper insert, giving residents of the Greater Golden Horseshoe region an overview of the Games from sports to venues, as well as an update on preparations to welcome the world in 2015.
"At the 1,000-day mark, we're exactly where we should be," said TO2015 Chief Executive Officer, Ian Troop. "We're on time and on budget or under budget on our capital projects. We're fanning out throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe talking up the opportunities that come with hosting this kind of once-in-a-lifetime event.
"And we're working closely with our partners in the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and municipalities, universities and venue owners throughout the region to ensure the TORONTO 2015 Games deliver a strong, living legacy that will be there for families and communities to enjoy long, long after the Games are over," he added.
The 1,000-day mark comes at a busy time for TORONTO 2015 organizers. In the last few weeks alone, TO2015 has:
- Broken ground on the largest new sport facility being built for the Games—the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House presented by CIBC (http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/groundbreaking-kicks-off-start-of-construction-for-pan-am-and-parapan-am-aquatics-centre-and-field-h.html) at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus. This new world-class facility is coming in more than $40 million under budget.
- Announced the sports program and footprint for the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games (http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/toronto-2015-parapan-am-games-footprint-announced.html) (August 7-14, 2015), the largest-ever Parapan Am Games to be held.
- Broken ground on the Markham Pan Am and Parapan Am Centre, (http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/to2015-breaks-ground-on-community-focused-markham-pan-am-and-parapan-am-centre.html) a major new pool and field house in Markham's burgeoning new downtown. This project is also coming in well under budget.
- Unveiled plans for the Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium, (http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/1998.html) which will replace the venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, and serve as "soccer central" during the Games. This project is also on budget and on time.
- Announced CBC/Radio-Canada as the Official Host and Domestic Broadcaster (http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/gallery/news/to2015-awards-host-and-domestic-broadcaster-role-to-cbcradio-canada.html) of the TORONTO 2015 Games, ensuring unprecedented levels of live English and French Games coverage.
- Continued to grow its impressive roster of corporate partners, adding global network leader CISCO in the category of Premier Partner and The Toronto Star and Metroland as Official Print and Online Media Supplier, joining Lead Partner CIBC and Premier Partner Chevrolet.
More announcements are planned throughout October and November.
"The Government of Canada is a proud supporter of the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, which will bring economic prosperity and job creation to the region, the province and our country as a whole," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "Our government's commitment to building the Games will bring world-class sport facilities to the Greater Toronto Area, while leaving behind lasting high-performance and recreation legacies for years to come."
"Ontario led the bid to host the Games to stimulate the economy, create jobs and build much-needed sport infrastructure for our athletes to train and compete at home," said Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games. "The 'People's Games' have also accelerated projects, such as the revitalization of Toronto's waterfront through the construction of the Athletes' Village and the Air Rail Link, which will benefit our children and grandchildren."
About the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games
The Pan American and Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and 26 member nations of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC). The Pan American Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports, while the Parapan American Games are comprised of the majority of Paralympic Summer Games sports. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games will draw more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials and feature 51 sports in municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10−26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.
SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
Carlene Siopis
Communications Advisor, TO2015
C: 647.206.0259
[email protected]
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