CIBC Pan Am Park will be "Action Central" for TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games

Downtown Toronto location will include historic Exhibition Place and Ontario Place West Channel

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Next summer, CIBC Pan Am Park will be "action central" for families and fans who want to experience 16 different sport competitions and take in cultural performances as part of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.

The park, which will include Exhibition Place and Ontario Place West Channel, will offer something for everyone from July 11-26, 2015, from thrilling multiple daily sport competitions to an amazing live site with PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC, performances and fun sponsor activities for the whole family.

For example, on Sunday, July 19, spectators could rise early and cheer on the women competing in the 20-kilometre race walk, watch the sand fly at an exhilarating beach volleyball semifinals game, see players dive into action at an indoor volleyball game and finish out the day with the gravity-defying routines at the trampoline competition. All four sports can be seen for less than $100 total per person.

Tickets for the Pan Am Games will be available to the public starting at 10 a.m. (ET) on Monday, September 15. For more information, including the Pan Am sport competition schedule and ticket pricing guide, visit TORONTO2015.org/tickets.

"With the greatest concentration of sport competitions — 16 in total — during the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games, CIBC Pan Am Park will be a huge celebration site for everyone, especially for fans who will want to see high calibre amateur sport competitions," said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

The park will involve the largest construction of temporary structures for the Games, involving 15,000 temporary seats, 10 kilometres of fencing and more than 100 tents to be installed in the spring of 2015.

For example, more than 3,000 metric tonnes of sand will help turn an everyday parking lot into the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre, a temporary venue that will meet top international standards.

Inside the existing exhibition halls, sporting arenas will be built with world-class fields of play to ensure athletes excel.

In the case of squash, a specially constructed glass show court will offer spectators an unparalleled 360-degree viewing experience. The court, which can convert from singles to doubles, will stay in Ontario as a legacy of the Games.

At the same time, the Games will take advantage of the Canadian National Rugby team's home field to host rugby sevens, including the women's Pan Am debut of the popular sport.

The Government of Canada and City of Toronto are jointly funding upgrades to the West Channel breakwater for waterski & wakeboard competitions and the repaving of Lake Shore Boulevard for triathlon, athletics and cycling events in the park's footprint.

The West Channel work will make it suitable for international sport competitions that require flat water for optimum performance as a part of the Games infrastructure legacy.

The competition venues and sports are:

• Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre (volleyball – beach)
• Exhibition Centre (volleyball – indoor, roller sports – figure skating, handball, squash, racquetball)
• Exhibition Stadium (rugby sevens)
• Toronto Coliseum (gymnastics – artistic, rhythmic, trampoline)
• Ontario Place West Channel (aquatics – open water swimming, waterski & wakeboard, triathlon, athletics – marathon, athletics – race walk, cycling – road cycling (road race), para-cycling – road cycling (road race)

It is anticipated that the best athletes from the 41 countries in the Americas will be competing, with the added attraction of the athletics, handball and triathlon competitions being part of the Olympic qualification process for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

CIBC Pan Am Park will also house several important non-competition venues including the Cisco International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Centre.

Opportunities for volunteers still exist in Toronto, including a variety of roles at CIBC Pan Am Park. To apply today, visit TORONTO2015.org/volunteer.

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport):

"It will be very exciting to experience all the world-class events taking place along Toronto's waterfront next summer during the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. Our Government is proud to support new and upgraded facilities for the Games, and we look forward to cheering on our Canadian athletes as they challenge for the podium on home soil."

Michael Coteau, Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games:

"The CIBC Pan Am Park will be 'action central' — a hub for athletes, spectators and visitors to experience the excitement of the Games in a special setting. It will be the perfect spot for Ontario families and visitors to cheer on athletes and celebrate the spirit of the Games."

Mayor Rob Ford, City of Toronto

"As the proud Host City of next summer's Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, Toronto is committed to investing in the development of Games venues across the city — the CIBC Pan Am Park is just one example of that. Exhibition Place and Ontario Place have long-standing histories as hubs for sport and recreation entertainment in Toronto. This will be a fantastic venue with exciting opportunities for residents and visitors alike."

Councillor Mark Grimes, Chair of Exhibition Place and Toronto's Pan Am Champion

"Exhibition Place is an award-winning leader in delivering environmentally sustainable events in Canada. As the nation's largest entertainment venue, it is home to many conventions, sporting events, festivals, recreation, culture and tourism across its 192 acres of land. We are pleased to welcome the high-performance athletes, guests and international media to our site, as it is transformed into CIBC Pan Am Park."

Joanna Brown, triathlete and CIBC Team Next athlete:

"I can't wait to compete in front of a home crowd at CIBC Pan Am Park next year. This venue will not only host several sporting competitions, but will be the heart of the games for athletes and fans to gather and enjoy themselves. CIBC Pan Am Park will be the place to go."

About TO2015
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) is tasked with managing and delivering the Games. It is working to bring some of the world's best athletes and artists to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, giving Ontarians a unique chance to be part of the action, and making the region a hub for sport.

The TORONTO 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as Lead Partner CIBC and other partners and sponsors.

The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–15.

For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.

SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

For further information: Teddy Katz, Director, media relations and chief spokesperson, TO2015, 416.957.2117, [e-mail]