Contact: Mayor Dave Barrow, (905) 771-2493

     

RICHMOND HILL – Mayor Dave Barrow announced today that the Town of Richmond Hill has been selected as a venue by the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games Bid Team. If the bid is successful, Richmond Green Park would play host to baseball games and some of the world's best amateur athletes.

“This is great news for Richmond Hill. We are excited about hosting people from around the world, athletes and visitors alike, and showcasing to them the great amenities that Richmond Hill has to offer,” said Mayor Dave Barrow on being selected as a venue,

This past January, Richmond Hill Council expressed its support of the Toronto and Greater Golden Horseshoe bid for the 2015 Pan and Parapan Am Games, as well as its intention to approach the bid organizing committee about Richmond Hill being a potential venue for the event.

“Should the Toronto bid be successful, Richmond Hill and the other participating municipalities will benefit in a number of ways, not the least being from increased tourism and infrastructure improvements,” said Mayor Barrow.

The Pan Am Games is a major international multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from all nations of the 42 countries of the Americas. The Games feature all summer Olympic sports and some non-Olympic events and also serve as an Olympic-qualifier for several sports.

The bid is supported by all three levels of government and will include universities, the private sector and a collaboration of municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It is expected that the Games would bring a $1.4 billion injection of federal, provincial, municipal and private funding into sports infrastructure for broad community benefits and long-term athlete development in Ontario for years to come. It is also expected to trigger more than 15,000 jobs in construction, tourism and event support.

The 2015 Pan Am Games would run for 17 days, July 10 to 26, followed by the Parapan Games running for eight days, August 7 to 14. The successful candidate for the 2015 Games will be announced this fall. For more information about the Toronto 2015 Bid, visit www.toronto2015.org.