By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, November 06, 2009

Toronto, Ontario has won the bid to host the 2015 Pan Am games.

Pan American Sports Organization voters chose Toronto over the two other bidding cities - Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told delegates following the announcement: "Our commitment, our pledge, our undertaking, our promise is to provide you with the best Pan Am Games ever."

The full text of news releases from Premier McGuinty and Prime Minister Harper follow.

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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today released the following statement regarding Ontario being awarded the 2015 Pan Am Games:

"I want to thank the Pan American Sports Organization for choosing Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe area to host the 2015 Pan American Games.

On behalf of 13 million Ontarians, we are deeply honoured to be chosen.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Ontario to build a stronger relationship with our partners in the Americas.

The excitement for the Games has been building throughout the bid process, and I know that our efforts will now gain tremendous momentum as we look forward to 2015.

I want to thank David Peterson for his leadership of the bid process, and congratulate the entire bid team on a job well done.

The Games will give our economy a welcome boost by creating thousands of construction jobs and bringing visitors to our city.

We're very excited about this opportunity to host a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Ontarians will work together to create outstanding sports facilities, a welcoming athletes village and a strong, engaging cultural program that will celebrate the diverse, dynamic people of the Americas.

Ontario also looks forward to working closely with organizers of the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games to ensure a successful event and a smooth transition towards the 2015 Games.

I know we can count on all Ontarians to work together to make the Games a great success and we look forward to hosting the people of the Americas."

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomes 2015 Pan American and Parapan American games to Canada

OTTAWA – (November 6) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the announcement that the 17th Pan American and Parapan American Games have been awarded to Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.

The decision was announced today at the Pan American Sports Organization meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"This is an exciting day for all Canadians. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Games in 2015," said the Prime Minister. "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to thank and congratulate the Toronto 2015 Bid Corporation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Government of Ontario, municipal leaders, the volunteers and everyone who was involved in bringing these Games to Canada.

"After the Winter Games of 2010, the Pan American and Parapan American Games of 2015 will ensure that Canada continues to be a leader in sport on the world stage.

"Canadians love sports and we are known for our hospitality, an unbeatable combination for successful Games.

"Sports fans in Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe area are known for their passion and commitment. I am confident they will give a warm welcome to athletes from across the Americas."

The Pan American and Parapan American Games are an international multisport event held every four years.

The Games host competitors from all nations in the Americas.

The last Games were held in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the next will be in 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.