Games outrun hotel space

With hotels in the Greater Sudbury area booked by those attending the Ontario Summer Games from Aug. 10-13, several citizens are offering up accommodations in their homes for visitors during the event.

Stephanie Withers was one of a handful of people to post an ad online in an effort to help out.

Withers said she decided to offer up two rooms to Ontario Summer Games spectators in her New Sudbury home after hearing about the shortage of hotel accommodations.

“I rent out to a student during the school year, so I have room during the summer,” she said. “I thought, ‘I have space, why don’t I use it?’”

Several other people hoping to visit the city during the games have also posted ads online looking for rooms to rent during the event.

Jeff Pafford, the City of Greater Sudbury liaison to the Ontario Summer Games, said the games organizers are not co-ordinating the rental of rooms in private homes to games spectators.

“That’s something individual residents are doing,” he said.

Rob Skelly, manager of tourism for the City of Greater Sudbury, said “it’s not a good time to visit Sudbury, unless you’ve got your room booked, for sure.”

He said there are 3,500 athletes participating in the sporting event. They are staying in the residences at Laurentian University and Cambrian College.

In addition to the athletes, up to 5,000 spectators will visit the city, he said. Skelly said the Ontario Summer Games are a “great benefit” for local hotels, restaurants and retailers. He suggests citizens “extend a warm welcome” to those visiting the city this week.

“We certainly want everyone coming here to have a really, really good time,” he said. “Be patient with crowds and traffic. There’s going to be some road construction going on at the same time, so it’s going to be a little chaotic, (but) it’s a great opportunity to sell the city.”

For more information about the Ontario Summer Games, check NorthernLife.ca for up-to-date coverage, go to www.2010ontariosummergames.ca or phone the games hotline at 673-6500.