The countdown has begun for the 2010 Ontario Summer Games.
From Aug. 10-13, 2010, Sudbury will be bustling with competition as the city steps back into the role for the third time as host city for the province's largest multi-sport event.
More than 3,600 athletes from across the province will compete in 32 different sports at 45 venues across the Greater Sudbury Area.
According to Dan Lee, co-chair of the games organizing committee, the Summer Games will be a celebration of the reopening of the city.
“We've been on holidays, so to speak,” he said. “Sudbury has been unable to host any large sporting events (since the late 1990s). We basically shut down the doors of Sudbury because we just didn't have the facilities to do it.
“That has ended. Today, we are open for business for the 2010 Ontario Summer Games.”
Co-chair John Roberts said Sudbury will be “games-ready” by the end of February of next year.
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but the workload is becoming less and less,” Roberts said. “We're confident that we will be ready.”
In most cases, the Summer Games will utilize facilities already in existence. Some facilities have undergone upgrades and renovations, such as the Laurentian community track, the mountain biking facilities in Naughton.
Deputy Mayor Ron Dupuis said it will be Sudbury's time to showcase to the rest of the province what northern Ontario has to offer.
“This is the third time we are going to be hosting the Ontario Summer Games. That says a lot about our community, about the people who organize these games. It's something we can all be proud of,” he said. “We are getting the whole community involved and this is what it's all about.”
As part of the bid for the games, there was the inclusion of a legacy component, Roberts explained.
“One part of the legacy was having the ability to host ... future local, regional, and provincial competitions. We now have that ability.”
A second component of the bid was to develop a group of core officials who would be able to officiate future competitions. The games organizing committee has committed to host officials seminars, and coaching clinics, if necessary.
Crystal Peiris, a representative of Sport Alliance of Ontario, was on hand for a press conference held to unveil the official logo and website of the 2010 Ontario Summer Games at Minnow Lake Place on Tuesday. She congratulated the city for the work it has already done, and what it will have accomplished by the end of the games.
“Hosting the games not only builds an important legacy of community pride, but provides an opportunity for sport development in your community,” she said.
More than 1,000 volunteers will need to be recruited for the games. Positions needing to be filled include registration, security, transportation, officials and first aid.
For more information on the 2010 Ontario Summer Games, or to volunteer, visit www.2010ontariosummergames.ca.
