TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Road Race Routes Released for Toronto

Marathon, triathlon, race walk and cycling competitions to hug Lake Ontario waterfront

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - The toughest endurance competitions at the TORONTO 2015 Games will happen along Lake Ontario next summer, offering runners, race walkers and cyclists — and a potential broadcast audience of millions of viewers — an incredible view of the city skyline as they cross the finish line.

Maps detailing the routes for the Pan Am marathon, triathlon, race walk and cycling road race, as well as the Parapan Am cycling road race are now available at TORONTO2015.org. These competitions are part of the Ontario Place West Channel (OPW) venue contained within CIBC Pan Am Park (PAP), located at Exhibition Place.

All road races in Toronto will start and finish on Lake Shore Boulevard. However, each sport will have laps of different length and levels of difficulty, enabling runners and cyclists to face challenging hills in High Park or the long, straightaways like Lake Shore Boulevard favoured by race walkers.

The Pan Am and Parapan Am race routes were designed under the direction of international experts to meet the critical technical requirements that govern Olympic, Paralympic and world championship courses.

To ensure a world-class field of play, as well as the safety of athletes and spectators, the race routes will require road closures at certain times on Lake Shore Boulevard and nearby streets.

The majority of these closures will take place in off-peak travel hours or on weekends to minimize disruptions to traffic, business and residents in the race area. For information on closure and reopening times, dates and street locations, please visit TORONTO2015.org/venue/ontario-place-west-channel.

Earlier this month, the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015), the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Service met with businesses located along the race routes, as well as Exhibition Place tenants to help them prepare for how to best operate during the Games.

A public information session will also be held for affected local area residents after the busy holiday season in early January. Meeting details will be available at TORONTO2015.org in the New Year.

Businesses and clubs in this area will be able to stay open during the Games, however customers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow for more travel time as no matter the mode of travel, it will take longer to reach their destination and, in some cases, routes will change at Games time.

Spectators are also encouraged to take public transit or to walk or cycle to and from CIBC Pan Am Park. They will be able to access public transit with their event tickets on the day of the event. For more information, visit TORONTO2015.org/venue/pan-am-park.

On a local level, the Lake Shore community is directly receiving approximately $4 million in roadway improvements as a result of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

To ensure other long-term community benefits to residents and business, legacy projects of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games include new and enhanced sports facilities, additional affordable housing and a series of Games-related programs, projects and initiatives for residents and visitors.

Hosting the Games will strengthen Toronto's international reputation, spur economic development and bolster Toronto's ability to attract national and international athletic competitions.

The regulatory changes required to facilitate these closures will be recommended to Toronto City Council early in the New Year.

The Toronto business and resident meetings are the start of a larger rollout of public engagement information sessions in municipalities across the Games footprint, which will run until this spring.

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.

About the City of Toronto

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

For further information for businesses and residents, please contact:

[e-mail]

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SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

For further information: For media inquiries only, please contact: Teddy Katz, Director, media relations and chief spokesperson, TO2015, 416.957.2117, [e-mail]; Wynna Brown, Manager, Media Relations & Issues Management, City of Toronto, 416.919.6503, [e-mail]; Staff Sgt. Devin Kealey, Toronto Police Service, Community & Business Liaison / Training Lead, Pan/Parapan American Games, 905. 494.2724 or 416.938.5701; Peter Leon, OPP, Integrated Security Unit, Provincial Media Relations Coordinator, 705.329.6878‎