Sudbury anticipating being major player in Ontario Games

BY SCOTT HADDOW

The sporting community in Greater Sudbury is ready to show the province just what it's made of.

Sudbury has been selected to be a co-host with Muskoka, who will present the 2010 Ontario Winter Games.

Sudbury's involvement would include hosting five-pin bowling, diving, squash and speed skating.

The organizers of the Muskoka event couldn't be happier partnering with Sudbury.

"We thought it was a logical choice," Muskoka Games spokesperson Graydon Smith said. "We knew Sudbury had great facilities and people to work with. It was an easy choice. What stood out was the eagerness of the people. It was a real pleasure to get such a positive response back."

Sudbury SportLink has played a pivotal role along with the city to land the events and is ready to go.

"It's a wonderful thing we're getting the 2010 Games along with Muskoka," SportLink executive director Susan Levesque. "To co-host something of this calibre is important. It's a great sporting event. I'm happy Sudbury is able to play a major role in helping (Muskoka)."

If all goes well, the Howard Armstrong Centre would host squash, Countryside would host speed skating, Laurentian University would host diving and Plaza Bowl would host bowling.

The City of Greater Sudbury and all involved partners will be on their toes to make sure everything runs smoothly as they have a bigger fish ready to fry themselves.

Sudbury is attempting to land the 2010 Ontario Summer Games and is in a hot race with one other city in the province.

"The bid is in," Levesque said. "I say Sudbury is long overdue. It's time it comes to northern Ontario. I believe Sudbury has the will and the facilities to do it."

Needless to say, the city is licking its chops at the prospects of hundreds of athletes, coaches and family members rolling into Sudbury in 2010 and the potential economic windfall that comes with them for the tourism industry.

"We're very excited," Ward 6 Counc. Andre Rivest said. "We're certainly on the map for sports. This brings a lot of tourism to Sudbury. This has a positive economic impact for us."