Six Reasons Why You Should be Excited about the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games
~ Words by Vickie Sam Paget, Sky Blue Content ~
1. Because Toronto is the Perfect Host
Toronto is one of the world’s most diverse cities, with 50 percent of the population being born outside Canada. What does that mean? A hometown cheering section for every country that takes part in the Games!
2. Because Size Matters
When compared to the size of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the Toronto Games will certainly hold their own. Whereas the Vancouver Games welcomed 7,000 athletes, coaches and officials, Toronto will welcome more than 10,000. And while Vancouver showcased 20 sports, Toronto will be home to some 51 sports. In fact, the Toronto Games will be the largest multi-sport games ever to take place in Canada—and the largest Pan Am and Parapan Am Games ever held.
3. Because Who Doesn’t Love Cirque du Soleil?
Grand opening ceremonies can sometimes—how can we put this?—miss the mark. But when the iconic Cirque du Soleil is the official creative partner and producer, it’s certain that the opening ceremony will impress. Cirque du Soleil will be bringing its special blend of stagecraft, acrobatic athleticism and colourful pageantry to an original production for the ceremony. This one-night-only performance, which will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of households throughout the Americas and Caribbean, will take place on July 10, 2015.
4. Because It’s a Chance to See Tomorrow’s Heroes Today
Canadian athletes sure to shake things up at the Games are trampoline gymnast Rosie MacLennan and freestyle wrestler Daniel Igali. Also watch out for Simon Whitfield in the triathlon and Donovan Bailey in track and field. All of these athletes will be using the Toronto Games as a springboard to the Olympics. The Games will host 19 Olympic qualifiers and 14 Paralympic qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Games.
5. Because There Will Be Some Fabulous Firsts
The Toronto Games will see a number of exciting sports debuts. Golf, women’s rugby sevens, canoe/kayak slalom, women’s basketball and men’s softball will be included in the PanAm Games for the first time. The Parapan Am Games will see wheelchair rugby and women’s sitting volleyball for the first time, as well as the return of seven-a-side football.
6. Because Arts and Culture Will Be Everywhere
Featuring exhibitions and performances from artists from across the Americas and the Caribbean, ‘Panamania’, the Toronto 2015 Arts and Culture Festival, is expected to attract 10,000 to 15,000 spectators each day to Nathan Phillips Square. World premieres by Canadian luminaries such as Robert Lepage, Crystal Pite and Veronica Tennant will be the major highlights of the festival. At its heart there will be more than 25 unique commissioned works by Canadian artists in theatre, photography, dance, music, spoken word, fashion and visual arts. Panamaia will run from the opening of the Pan Am Games on July 10, 2015 until the closing of the Parapan Am Games on August 15, 2015.
www.toronto2015.org
Image: Toronto 2015
This branded content first appeared in Canadian Traveller magazine.
