Pan American/Parapan American Games 2015: Boon for Toronto

Toronto’s hosting of the Pan American/Parapan American Games to be held in the summer of 2015 has sparked a serious debate among politicians and Torontonians alike. This is due to the vast amount of spending which games of this magnitude require. Roughly $1.4 billion dollars worth of taxpayer’s money is earmarked for the construction and revitalization of infrastructure, housing, and other facilities needed to host such an event.  This leads residents to question if there is any benefit that can be derived from such a sporting extravaganza.

The short answer is yes. The Pan Am/Parapan American Games is going to be an advantage for Toronto, although the breadth and width of the economic success will not be fully measured until after the event. Let’s tackle the most obvious benefit that comes with hosting these games: That of the construction boom. Five new venues for the various games are already being built—the new aquatic centre at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus; the new football (soccer) stadium; the athletics stadium at York University; the 50-metre pool and gymnasium in Markham; and a new velodrome in Hamilton. In addition, the building of the Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village is also underway in the West Don Lands. There are also 22 venues that will be renovated.

Some ask: What will happen to the permanent structures such as the Athletes’ Village that will  be used temporarily during the games? Well, this building in particular is going to be turned into a living community.  The units will be sold to the public. Understandably, this might take a few years but these structures are not going to turn into white elephants after the event.

To add, with the acquirement of these games also  comes a  plan to restructure transportation efforts around the city. For instance the construction of the Air Rail Link (ARL) connecting Mississauga’s Pearson airport to Union Station is definitely going to give unparalleled convenience to the city’s commuters on a long term scale.

Another benefit from the Pan Am Games is the influx of tourists from various parts of the Americas and all over the world. It is estimated that 250,000 tourists will visit Canada for this event which will certainly stimulate the regional economy. The publicity that surrounds the games will also get more people to come to Canada. The effects of tourism are going to be long-lasting, provided that tourism authorities and tourism-related businesses (e.g. hotels, restaurants, etc.) are going to give visitors great service that will encourage them to come back to Toronto and/or encourage their friends to come as well.

There is no reason to doubt that Toronto’s construction industry  and Torontonians themselves will ultimately turn out as the true winners in the Pan American/Parapan American Games.