It's D-Day for Toronto's Pan Am Games Bid. But if We Win It, and Build It, Will They Come?
UPDATE: Toronto has won the bid to host the Pan Am Games
By the time most of the city is leaving work today, we'll know whether Toronto has won its controversial bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Phoning from the Toronto bid team's headquarters in Guadalajara, Mexico, mayor David Miller is succinct about why he thinks the Toronto games would be a good thing.
"I have to look at that from the city's perspective. Sports has an important part to play, and the way these games have evolved, Toronto will get the benefit of hosting them. We'll have our name known around the Americas, we'll build very strong bonds between Latin America and Toronto, which is very significant with immigration from South America."
Miller is also quick to list other ways the city will benefit - it's a guarantee that U of T will build new world class sports facilities at its downtown and Scarborough campus, which will push the construction of the Scarborough-Malvern LRT line from second to first priority in the Transit City plan. And he insists that the Toronto taxpayers won't have to pay the bill if - some insist that it's more like a "when" - costs go overboard.
"I look at that fairly narrowly," Miller says. "The city isn't on the hook if things go wrong - it's the province. The city gets the benefit if we succeed - that's a pretty good deal for Toronto. We have an ironclad agreement with them that's already been signed."
The only flaw with that logic is that Toronto remains part of Ontario, and the bid's opponents don't hesitate to point that out. In fact, one of the marvels of the Pan Am bid is how it's united two disparate groups against it - the libertarian Freedom Party on the right with its No Tax For Pan Am campaign, and the social activists of the No Games Toronto group, supported by the agitators at John Clarke's Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.
Joeita Gupta from No Games points to Vancouver's upcoming Winter Olympics as an example of how badly things can go. "I believe (Toronto bid leader) David Peterson's exact remark was 'We're going to have a party without a hangover.' That's unrealistic. If you look at Vancouver, they said when they got their bid that they'd convert their athletes village into affordable housing."
"After a few years they had to bail the corporation that was running the athlete's village out on account of the recession, so they had to take over the mortgage." Based on precedents, Gupta doesn't see how Toronto won't see the same thing happening with the athlete's village it's promised to build on the city-owned West Donlands.
But the most persuasive argument Gupta and No Games offer is that the games are strictly third-tier, with little chance of offering the profile the city obviously craves after several successive losses in bids for Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World Expos. Veteran sportswriter Gare Joyce explains that, from the sports media's perspective, the Pan Am Games are "a devalued sports brand or franchise."
"Sportswriters would consider it the booby prize of assignments. The Pan Ams used to be something staffed by major media like Sports Illustrated but now it's thoroughly in the margins. A solid, representative track and field meet used to be the highlight and centrepiece but now the best go to Europe for the elite summer circuit."
Still, it's hard to imagine the media landscape of 2015 resembling today's, and Miller suggests that if current trends continue, Toronto could end up hosting a Pan Am Games channel broadcast online, and that the promise of U.S. viewers for a nearby games could attract more U.S. athletes. "Toronto is an amazing city," Miller says, "but we're not always as successful as we should be, and I think the reason is that we don't tell our stories often enough or well enough across the world."
Comments (41)
Torontonians don't care about amateur sports. The Pan AM games in Toronto will cause increased taxes and mountains of debt. Anyone involved with bringing this thing to Toronto should be shot. (Maybe that's a bit harsh). But I assure you the only people going to watch the Pan AM games in Toronto will be "friends and family".
A bit of a short ending to the video. Not that any Cuban report would be believed, but did it really help their economy?
George P, couldn't have said it better (or funner!) lol
I for one, don't think we should host the Pan-Am games, it is such a gargantuan waste of resources, especially since we are so cash strapped and in debt. Mayor Miller says Toronto won't be on the hook for costs, but the province will, well Mr Mayor, it so happens that it's the same taxpayer footing the bill. Lima, its all yours.
"Based on precedents, Gupta doesn't see how Toronto won't see the same thing happening with the athlete's village it's promised to build on the city-owned West Donlands."
Point of correction: the West Don Lands are owned by the Province, not the city.
Wah - you're right. I'd totally forgotten about the Ataritiri project (as had most people, I assume.) The thing about the whole Pan Am development thing that bothers me is the blur between city and provincial responsibility for various components, and given the history of offloading responsibility downwards, I can't help but wonder if this will happen again.
Winnipeg has held the Pan Am games 2 times. 1967 and 1999. The 1999 games actually made a small profit and were successful, and left major sports infastructure.Including a world class pool.
Thats super that we have all those things. But the biggest factor is that NO ONE GIVES A RATS ASS about the Pan-Am games.
I dont care if we floating stadiums that shoot gold, no one will come visit this hack event. People would rather wath YouTube vidoes of kids falling off skateboards and crushing their nuts than travel around the world to watch some guy from Barbados run really fast.
So no one cares about 'amateur sports'? Really? I'd say the Leafs are quite amateur...pathetic...and definitely not worth the ticket price. Over-paid, whining NHL players (who are sometimes figure skaters??) v. up & coming, young, ambitious amateur sports players? Bring on the Pan Am Games!
Its pointless because no one will buy tickets to this event.
There will be so many given away by the few corporate sponsors they do manage to get, it will just be embarassing.
Toronto does not and will not get behind these games.
2015 will come around and you will have to look far and wide for anyone who even knew the games are coming.
What's with all the talk that people won't want to watch amateur sports - the Olympics are amateur too, no?
Who will watch the Olympics? They'll probably have those dirty BC hippies putting Toronto down for 3 weeks. Meh. Or bragging about a new road. I mean, even their salmon don't show up.
If we don't win the bid, does this city have the stomach to bid for the Olympics in 2020? http://facebook.com/Toronto2020
I would much rather be host to the world, then just the 40 or so Pan Am countries.
That's the same Marc Emery of Cannabis Culture in
British Columbia.
That's the same Paul McKeever who still hasn't won
a seat anywhere in any election since he first tried
more than 20 years ago.
There's something curious about how people who are
unsuccessful always jumping to the fore when something
like Olympics or Pan-Am games come out.
You'd think they'd learn their lesson and leave
well enough alone. Well, neither
did Harold Stassen or John Turmel.
I hope something positive comes of this like an upgraded subway system and affordable housing. But then again this is Toronto.
Adam Giambrone (sp?) already commented on building the TTC infrastructure now, on Twitter after the announcement. Given he's in a potential position for future Mayor, I hope he proves just with this one, and does a good job. I think it's time Toronto's government actually worked for a change. Thank Jeebus that Miller will be replaced (probably with Tory).
You need to implement a remedial class in grammar and spelling. Who let the dirty hippie in here? Shoe! Or I'll throw some soap at you!
Wow, the Pan Am Games....................What the hell are the Pan Am Games? This isn't the 1960's anymore. Well, we certainly have a tough act to follow, Guadalajara? Mexico? We basically just won the consolation prize to the Olympics, but not a good prize, the you're not pretty enough prize.
Bring on the crappy logo that everyone hates, but 8 politicians in a committee agree that it encompasses us all. My guess is that it will be multi-cultural. The one word that all at the same times defines us and undefines us.
Ah just look at it as another reason to drink beer. Might as well make the most of it, as it's not going to go away. Drink with Pan Am Pizza?
So they will have to raise the TTC fare to what 5 dollars now to help pay for the increase in the TTC infrastructure. we all know queen park and the city are broke.
Super. Ontario is $24.7 billion in debt, and I just came down from the Greyhound into Union Station, and it is still unfinished black tar on the walls, and has been for two years.
Hurrah for taxes for a Games no one watches or wants! Stupid. Unbelievable when the City of Toronto is in disarray.
So we shut down pools in one part of Toronto, and build brand new world class pools in another.
..... That's something.
I am cautiously excited. There is a lack of sports infrastructure here, glad to see it will be addressed.
City Hall has totally flipped its lid. This is the dumbest thing they ever did. Can you imagine what a nightmare this is going to be? All for nothing.
Before you jump to conclusions, please take some time to study the situation and response to the situation Toronto is in. Know why the response to "debt" is "debt", and how they differ. As much as I don't think Miller is a leader, I do agree with how they are handling this.
Oh, and taking money and giving it away is a temporary dead end. Then what? Tax "companies"? Riiiight. Then what? Remedial education is of real value. It serves us all. Ignorance/fear/denial serves nobody.
Hey, thanks for the incomprehensible comment. The city spends much more than it makes. It is an incorporation. That is a bad thing. The Feds have a lot more room with debt, etc. Not the city, the city shouldn't be as tight as it is.
The creation is sports facilities is greatly overplayed. We are closing pools all over so adding 2 doesnt make much of a difference to most people.
A games can not make a profit until all public money is paid back and you get to zero. The Los Angeles Olympics are the only games that have ever done so. Despite what many think, the Calgary Olympics did not make money.
Now Metrolinx has a perceived imperative to push its dirty diesel on the west end of Toronto instead of taking an extra year or so and going electric. So much for green games.
And your fine solution is what? Not do anything? Cut social programs? Shut down pools and schools? Or somehow you're going to get the Feds to hand over some cash? Taking low cost debt to handle other debt is not a complex calculation. Refinancing a situation where they need cash is one of the options they have, and they chose that, instead of increasing taxes.
So what IS your solution?
What is wrong with the City of Toronto? The city will be facing almost 3 billion in debt by 2010 and we have a horrible transit system and not-so-great social programs to show for it. I don't want to turn this into a Toronto-hate-fest, so I will offer my opinion on fixing some issues. The City of Toronto is a business which is run very poorly. We get taxed, which is the Toronto's revenue and city employees get paid which is Toronto's expenses and finally Toronto chooses to spend money (which it doesn't have)on programs and that turns to debt. When businesses are small they are easier to navigate, but as expansion and growth occur debt starts to mount and we get a Nortel situation. The City of Toronto is Nortel right now, but unfortunately, we can't just claim bankruptcy and walk away. We need to start electing business men that have experience operating successfully, and are true leaders to represent us. These leaders must start stripping away all of these layers of bull shit wrapped in debt and give us and our future generations a chance at living in a world-class city which is debt-free. Toronto will have to go back to basics and look really closely at it's income and expense statements to determine what can be trimmed away in terms of expense and debt (i.e. Panam games and new LTR lines). This might not be fun for us, but we will be leading the way to a debt-free Toronto and allowing our kids to have a better Toronto. Toronto's finances should be treated just like you would your own. If you can't afford it you shouldn't spend it.
There will be minor spending on infrastructure and absolutely no money for the TTC. Expect no additional subways. They will, of course, make some new signs. Many of which will be hand written as that is the way the TTC does these things.
Union Station will continue to languish in it's current state.
There will be no train service to Pearson. That will be deemed too extravagant for something as insignificant as the Pan Am Games.
A number of shabby buildings will be put up to form a Pan Am shanty town. These will serve as excellent candidates for the annual Pugly Awards, so maybe it's not such a bad thing. It's not as if one has to go into that section of town anyway.
Early in the construction process, the money will dry up. Organizers will declare this a potential disaster to the beloved games. The Fed and the Province will vanish. Leaving the poor citizens of Toronto fix the mess.
The 8 or so clowns who got the city into this mess will all be long gone. But the bills will continue to mount and we will be expected to pay.
A handful of developers will make a fortune.
Another election will roll around. Candidates will swear -- something like -- the Pan Am Games fiasco will never happen again. They will also talk about cleaning up city hall. And so on and so forth.
And then it's back to business as usual in Toronto.
I'm young, I didn't know what the Pam Am games were when they announced Toronto had won it. But I bet with 4 years of advertising and preparation most Torontonians will be aware of the event, if not excited for it.
It doesn't matter if every single Torontonian or no Torontonians are excited, if the rest of this Hemisphere doesn't really care, it's all for naught.
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