11/6/2009
Toronto will play host to the 2015 Pan Am Games.
The decision came down today in Guadalajara, Mexico, where a team including Dalton McGuinty and David Miller made their last pitch to host the games.
Organizers have said a win would bring new jobs, facilities and a little civic pride to Ontario's capital, as well as across the southern portion of the province as venues will stretch from St. Catharines to Oshawa to Barrie.
Several new facilities are set to be built to anchor the games, including a $170-million aquatic and sports training centre at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus.
Hamilton will get a $150-million, 15,000-seat athletic stadium and the West Don Lands neighbourhood will see an 8,500-unit athletes' village.
In total, four new Olympic-size pools would be built in several sites across the region.
It's estimated the games will bring in $30-million in revenue just from overnight hotel stays in Toronto, with $3.9-million in taxes to senior governments.
Toronto won on the first ballot, beating out bids from Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia.
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