Toronto Now Making Final Pitch to Host 2015 Pan American Games

"All stops being pulled out to bring Home the Games"

GUADALAJARA , Mexico , Nov. 6 /CNW/ - The Toronto 2015 bid team is currently making its final presentation to host the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games.

"We're pulling out all the stops to show that our city and our plan are the best for the Games," said the Hon. David Peterson , Toronto 2015 Bid Chair, moments before the final pitch. "We're not leaving anything in the dressing room."

Toronto's presentation is a 50-minute multi-media extravaganza embodying the city's unparalleled spirit of sport. It features performances, videos, and remarks from 11 presenters from the athletic, business, sports officials and political arenas:

    
    -   The presentation opens with Your Moment is Here, a music video
        featuring the Canadian Tenors in an original composition singing to a
        backdrop of great Pan American athletic moments;

    -   Opening and closing remarks are provided by Michael Chambers,
        President of Canadian Olympic Committee;

    -   Bid Chair, the Hon. David Peterson, outlines Toronto's vision of the
        best- ever Pan American Games and highlights the Toronto advantages;

    -   A "spirit of the city" video reflects and demonstrates not only the
        spirit of sport in Toronto, but the passion that cultural diversity
        has brought to one of the greatest cities in the world;

    -   Premier Dalton McGuinty is lead presenter, emphasizing the strong
        provincial government support and financial guarantee for the 2015
        Pan Am Games;

    -   Mayor David Miller and Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn
        underscore strong support from both the City of Toronto and the
        Government of Canada;

    -   Anatol von Hahn, Executive Vice-President of Scotiabank and Joe
        Halstead, former Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and
        Tourism for Toronto present the city's strong business case;

    -   Jagoda Pike, Bid President and COO, introduces the Pan American
        Village, competition venues and express transportation;

    -   Olympians Charmaine Crooks and Alexandra Orlando and Paralympian
        Carla Qualtrough, who is also President of the Canadian Paralympic
        Committee, talk about Toronto's athlete-centred approach and
        sustained Games legacy;

    -   Presentations are interspersed and backed-up by a number of other
        videos, including fly-throughs of the Athletes Village and proposed
        venues, and athlete endorsements. While most cities will showcase
        local athletes supporting their city's ability to host, Toronto also
        secured numerous endorsements from athletes outside of Toronto and
        Canada that would like to see the 2015 Pan Am Games come to Toronto,
        including athletes from Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic,
        Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Venezuela.

    -   The grand finale, Share the Dream, follows the journey of three
        children as they grow and make their dreams a reality by competing at
        the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2015. The video follows these young
        athletes in their chosen sports of track, soccer and swimming as they
        train in their native lands and eventually make their way to Toronto.
        The piece is scored by a dramatic piece of music, stunning
        cinematography and a triumphant ending.
    

"This film is the alchemy of everyone's dreams - sports, athletic excellence and passion on a larger than life cinematic scale. There will not be a dry eye in the house," said Barry Avrich, President, Endeavour Marketing.

The Toronto 2015 presentation was Executive Produced by Bob Richardson , President, Devon Group and Barry Avrich, President, Endeavour Marketing.

Toronto presented following bid competitors Bogota , Colombia and Lima, Peru . The vote on the host city by the 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) will follow with the announcement expected at approximately 6 pm (EST ).

To watch the announcement live and to view the Share the Dream video, please visit www.Toronto2015.org

The Pan Am Games are a major international multi-sport event, held every four years for athletes of the 42 PASO member nations. The Pan American Games consists of all Summer Olympic sports, plus other non-Olympic events, and serve as an Olympic-qualifier for a number of participating sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. The last edition of the games was held in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil in July 2007 and the next is for Guadalajara , Mexico in October 2011 .

For further information: Liz Borowiec, Toronto 2015, [phone], [email protected]