Toronto 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games "on track" says CEO

Toronto Board of Trade gets progress update today

TORONTO, June 30 /CNW/ - Ian Troop, CEO, Toronto 2015, today called on the city's business community to be co-creators of the 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games and said 2010 will be a productive year with a lot of ground already covered.

"We are on track and will have a busy summer moving ahead with plans," said Troop. "It's a good time for businesses and all facets of the community to begin thinking about ways to get involved with this big, important event."

Troop's comments were to a capacity crowd at today's Toronto Board of Trade annual luncheon, where he also covered some of the latest developments in Games operations:

    
    -   The key Toronto 2015 organizing team is in place, with people hired
        to lead the critical areas of finance, marketing and revenue,
        operations, human resources and infrastructure.
    -   Phase 1 of the venue verification work to confirm use of each of the
        proposed Games venues is almost complete. Additional evaluation of
        the venues is underway and meanwhile, Infrastructure Ontario has work
        plans ready for the venues. All this will lead to building work
        Requests for Proposals in January 2011 and "shovels in the ground" in
        the second half of 2011.
    -   Toronto 2015 brand development is underway, an essential element in
        promoting the Games and signing on sponsors. The brand strategy,
        design and go-to-market plan will be ready to launch in late summer.
    -   Elements of a sport and community involvement program are ramping up
        and includes the Gateway Grads program, with 11 of Ontario's best
        graduating student-athletes hired to work on the Games, ready to
        launch in the fall.
    

Troop also talked about how the Games will build on the sport program, and expand to the community and business.

"We will have programs in schools, recruit a volunteer force of 19,000 people and create a cultural festival that will begin long before 2015," said Troop. "The 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games will transform this city as we celebrate the cultures, art, music and athletic performance of the 42 Pan American nations."

About the Toronto 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games

The Pan American Games is one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Summer Olympic Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 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 further information: Liz Borowiec, Toronto 2015, [phone]