2015 Bid update

    TORONTO, Nov. 27 /CNW/ -

    A message from Jagoda Pike, Bid President and COO

    Welcome to the first official update on the Toronto and Greater Golden
Horseshoe Bid for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. I am pleased to
report that there has been significant activity over the past six weeks, since
introducing our Bid to PASO (the Pan American Sports Organization) in
Acapulco. We are about to enter an even busier phase, so look forward to
regular updates on Bid news and events over the weeks and months ahead.
    The following highlights some of the critical work currently underway.

    International

    -   The Bid's introduction at the PASO annual meeting in October created
        a definite buzz, with a presentation that impressed voters and
        included a video that contained a variety of enthusiastic
        endorsements (to see the video, visit www.toronto2015.org).
    -   Led by Premier Dalton McGuinty, the team included Health Promotion
        Minister Margarett Best, Canadian Olympic Committee President Michael
        Chambers and International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission
        member Charmaine Crooks. Other team members included Caribana Chair
        Joe Halstead and Pan Am Games athlete and triple-gold medalist
        Alexandra Orlando.
    -   Canada's Ambassador to Mexico, Guillermo Rishchynski, also hosted a
        successful reception that was attended by many PASO voters during the
        annual meeting week.
    -   The international effort in Mexico built on the success of Premier
        McGuinty's visit to the Beijing Olympics, where he had his first
        opportunity to meet with the majority of PASO voters.
    -   Since October, the Bid group has been following up on advice and
        incorporating insights gained from these meetings into the Bid plan.

    Bid Book underway

    -   The Bid Book is the written document that outlines in detail our plan
        to host the 2015 Pan and Parapan Am Games. It must include plans for
        every element of Games operations, from the layout of athlete housing
        to venue technical logistics and much more.
    -   The deadline for submission to PASO is April 2009, and work on the
        Bid Book is well underway.
    -   We are pleased to announce that Yield, a Toronto-based creative
        services agency, was recently retained through a competition to help
        develop the Bid Book.

    Working with area Mayors

    -   The Bid President and staff are continuing discussions with Mayors
        and Chief Administrative Officers from every Greater Golden Horseshoe
        municipality interested in participating in the Games.

    Sport sector adding expertise

    -   From bowling to athletics, Canada's National Sport Organizations
        representing Pan Am sports are being consulted for their insights and
        experiences with major competitions, to ensure our venue and sport
        plans are second to none.
    -   Sport representatives are promoting the Bid with their Pan Am nation
        counterparts, who will be influential with Bid Pan Am Games
        officials.
    -   We would like to thank Equine Canada, which already has profiled the
        Bid at a recent meeting with its Pan Am counterparts in Buenos Aires.

    Board recruitment

    -   Business, sport and community leaders are being recruited to join the
        Bid Corporation board and serve as volunteer members of the team
        working to win the Bid.
    -   The team will be finalized in the next few weeks.

    Ongoing government support

    -   New federal Minister of State for Sport, Gary Lunn, is enthusiastic
        about our Bid. We are pleased to have his support.
    -   Premier McGuinty, Minister Best and a host of other ministers and
        provincial officials have been providing advice and support as we
        prepare the Bid Book and plan for future international activities.
    -   Mayor David Miller and the City of Toronto Executive Committee of
        City Council are endorsing the City's role as host, and several
        municipalities continue to push proposals to participate in the
        Games.
    -   Led by President Michael Chambers, the COC board formally endorsed
        the Bid at its annual meeting earlier this month.

    New Bid headquarters

    -   The Bid headquarters is now fully operational at 53 Jarvis Street in
        Toronto, and serves as the primary meeting and planning centre for
        Bid operations.

    About the Pan Am Games

    The Pan American Games is a major international multi-sport event, held
every four years for athletes of the 42 PASO member nations. The Pan Am Games
features all Summer Olympic sports and some non-Olympic events, and serves as
an Olympic-qualifier for several sports. If the bid is successful, the event
is expected to bring close to $2 billion in economic activity to Ontario by
attracting 250,000 visitors and creating 17,000 jobs throughout the region.
For more information or to subscribe to receive updates, visit
www.toronto2015.org.

For further information: Liz Borowiec, Communications, T. (416)
326-4982, liz.borowiec@toronto2015.org