Over the years I have heard over and over
again, from countless people, about Greater Sudbury's perceived
image in the province and across the country in general.
It's usually bad, unless you're talking to
someone who's living in the city or originally from here.
Well, the sports community, as a whole, is
fighting the good fight for Sudbury, and winning right
now.
In the past week and a half, Sudbury has
received some astonishingly good news about people who want to
come here and experience our unique little, rugged corner of
the world.
Last week, it was announced the 2007 Canadian
Short Track Speed Skating Championships were coming to our
town.
Not only was it surprising, great news for
the Sudbury Sprinters, the local speed skating club, but it was
just good news for the community overall.
The Sprinters put on a first class event in
2005 hosting the provincial speed skating championships.
Their effort, combined with an army of
dedicated volunteers, made a wonderful impression on speed
skaters, coaches and other Canadian speed skating officials to
earn the right to host the national championships.
It was a tremendous feather in the caps of
all those involved in speed skating in Sudbury and we should be
proud of their work.
Just this past week, organizers for the 2007
Little NHL Hockey Tournament announced the event is coming back
to Sudbury next year after the tournament thrilled hockey fans
this past week in arenas across the city.
These hockey fans wouldn't come back if they
didn't like what they saw in Sudbury and how they're welcomed
and treated.
It reflects back on our outstanding athletic
community and the everyday people in Sudbury.
This isn't something new for Sudbury.
Every year, all kinds of local sporting
organizations hold tournaments that annually attract countless
teams, athletes and their family and friends to our
community.
Take the Big Nickel Hockey Tournament for
example. Every year I am amazed at just how far our community
reputation extends across the province and beyond to draw in
teams to vie for Big Nickel titles.
Some teams come from as far away as cities in
the northern part of the United States.
I am holding my breath for the day we can all
share in the joy of a major announcement of a future sporting
event like when the World Junior Championships came to Sudbury
in 1988.
I have no questions in my mind that Sudbury
is quite capable of hosting another big time event, like an
Ontario Winter or Summer Games or even a Canada Games
series.
Just on the sheer spirit of our sports fans,
Sudbury is capable of doing anything, especially changing the
attitudes of people towards our town.
