August 9, 2008 (Beijing, China) — The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is pleased and encouraged that the Government of Canada has agreed to join the Governments of Ontario and various greater Toronto area municipalities in supporting the bid to host the 2015 Pan American Games.

The eyes of the world focused last evening on the 10,000+ athletes who marched proudly into Beijing’s National Stadium (colloquially named the Bird’s Nest) for the Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympic Games. The overwhelming national pride demonstrated by the people of China, and the impressive organization of the Beijing Games, illustrate the tremendous benefits hosting a major international sports event can bring to a country. A successful 2015 Pan American Games Bid will afford the populace of communities around the greater Toronto area and Golden Horseshoe, as well as all Ontarians and Canadians, the opportunity to experience similar excitement first hand in 2015.

“The support from the Federal Government for the 2015 Pan American Games bid demonstrates once again the commitment of the Harper government towards high performance sport in Canada,” said COC President Michael Chambers. “We look forward to working with our Federal, Provincial and Municipal government partners in crafting a winning bid.”

“This announcement comes closely on the heels of the Federal Governments’ spring budget that contributed significant funding to the summer Road to Excellence program. This ongoing support for high performance sport illustrates to all Canadians the importance that the Harper government places on sport, and healthy lifestyles”, said Chris Rudge, Chief Executive Officer of the COC.

Competing bids for the 2015 Pan American Games are expected from Bogota (Colombia), Lima (Peru) and Caracas (Venezuela). Canada last hosted the Pan American Games in Winnipeg in 1999, and has not hosted a major multi-sport event in Ontario since the 1936 British Empire Games (the precursor to the Commonwealth Games).

The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s involvement in the Olympic movement, including Canada’s participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For more information see the COC website: www.olympic.ca.