Softball competition will mark the return of men's softball to the Games
TORONTO, May 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) released its full schedule for both men's and women's softball today, meaning fans can now pick and choose tickets to watch their favourite matchups between some of the best softball teams in the world.
Since making its debut on the Pan Am Games program in 1979, softball has been a long-time fan favourite. The recently upgraded President's Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark will be the home of this summer's competitions.
Men's softball will return to the Games for the first time since 2003, which is good news for Canada. The Canadian men's team has won all seven gold medals in the sport's history at the Pan Am Games, each time defeating rivals, and TORONTO 2015 competitors, the United States. Other teams rounding out the competition will include Mexico, Argentina, Dominican Republic and Venezuela. All six men's teams are among the top nations in the world.
"Our Canadian men's softball team is thrilled about the return of men's softball to the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games," said John Stuart, head coach of the Canadian men's team. "This is the only multi-sport event that the team competes in. These Games mean everything to our athletes, and we look forward to competing for gold on home soil. There are many top teams emerging from the Americas, and we are very confident with the group of players we have."
The Canadian men's team will begin its quest for another title with a game against Mexico on Sunday, July 12, and will then go head to head with archrival the United States, seven-time Pan Am silver medallists, on Monday, July 13.
Canada's men's softball schedule:
- Sunday, July 12 vs. Mexico at 7 p.m. (SB001)
- Monday, July 13 vs. USA at 7 p.m. (SB002)
- Tuesday, July 14 vs. Argentina at 7 p.m. (SB003)
- Wednesday, July 15 vs. Dominican Republic at 7 p.m. (SB004)
- Thursday, July 16 vs. Venezuela at 4:30 p.m. (SB005)
The men's semifinals will be held on Friday, July 17, at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (SB006), followed by the bronze- and gold-medal games on Saturday, July 18, at noon and 3 p.m. (SB007).
Tickets for the men's softball competition offer fans a three-for-one deal. A single ticket to any preliminary round session taking place from July 12 to 16, will give fans the opportunity to see all three games within the same session. Additionally, buying a single semifinal ticket will allow fans to see both semifinal games, and buying a ticket for the final session will allow fans to see both the bronze- and gold-medal games.
"Softball will be a hot ticket at the Toronto 2015 Games." Said Saäd Rafi, TO2015's chief executive officer. "Fans have the opportunity to see top talent from throughout the Americas and the return of men's softball to the Games after over a decade. It's an exciting time for softball fans."
In the women's competition, the United States will be the team to beat, having won the previous seven gold medals at the Games and beating Canada in the last four. The Canadian women's team, which will be competing with a stacked roster that will include four Olympians and eight returning Pan Am players from the 2011 Guadalajara Games, is expected to be on the hunt for the gold as well.
"Our team has a proud history of performing well at the Pan American Games, and we look forward to the opportunity to play in front of our Canadians fans," said Mark Smith, head coach of the Canadian women's softball team.
Cuba's women's team will also be strong competitors, after winning a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan Am Games. Other countries that will compete in the women's tournament include Brazil, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Canada's women's softball schedule:
- Sunday, July 19 vs. Brazil at 4:30 p.m. (SB008)
- Monday, July 20 vs. Cuba at 7 p.m. (SB009)
- Tuesday, July 21 vs. USA at 7 p.m. (SB010)
- Wednesday, July 22 vs. Dominican Republic at 7 p.m. (SB011)
- Thursday, July 23 vs. Puerto Rico at 7 p.m. (SB012)
The women's semifinals will be held on Friday, July 24, at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (SB013), followed by the bronze-medal game on Saturday, July 25, at 5 p.m. (SB014) and the gold-medal game on Sunday, July 26, at 11 a.m. (SB015).
Tickets for the women's competition offer great value. As with the men's competition, preliminary tickets offer a three-for-one deal — buying a single ticket to any preliminary round session will give fans three games within the same session, and a single semifinal ticket will allow fans to see both semifinal games.
John Stuart, head coach of the Canadian men's softball team and Mark Smith, head coach of the Canadian women's team, will be available to media during a teleconference call at 1 p.m. (ET) Friday, May 1. The call-in details are: local: +1.647.723.3981; toll-free: 800.747.5150. Please use access code 9572012.
To view the full TORONTO 2015 softball schedule for both the men's and women's tournament and to purchase tickets, visit TORONTO2015.org/tickets.
The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games ticket program is designed to be affordable and accessible for everyone by offering:
Integrated tickets: Every event ticket will allow the holder to access transit on the day of the event.
Affordable pricing: Tickets start at just $20, with 75 per cent of tickets priced $45 and under.
Half-price tickets for persons under 16 years of age, or 65 and over: Tickets will be offered at a 50 per cent discount — some will start at $10. The number of discounted tickets is limited, so buy early.
Tickets for Parapan Am sporting events will range from $20 to $35 for adults, with a youth (under 16) and senior (65+) discount from $10 to $12.50 available, depending on the event. The number of discounted tickets is limited, so don't delay.
Easy options for buying: Tickets can be purchased online at TORONTO2015.org/tickets or at 1.855.726.2015 and internationally at 1.949.333.4824.
About TO2015
The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–15. 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 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 Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, giving Ontarians a unique chance to be part of the action, and making the region a hub for sport.
For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org or follow @TO2015, @TO2015_fr (French) or @TO2015_es (Spanish).
SOURCE Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
please contact: Teddy Katz, Director, media relations and chief spokesperson, TO2015, 416.957.2117, [email protected]
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