Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 25, 2014
Province kicks in extra $74 million for 2015 Pan Am Games
Ontario’s governing Liberals say they’ll pump another $74 million into the multibillion-dollar 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in southern Ontario.
They say the organizing committee expects $25 million in revenue shortfalls and $49 million in “additional requirements.”
The government says the money will be used to provide a live broadcast of selected events, back-up ambulances and expanding the torch relay to other communities. Both the government and the organizing committee say it’s the last time that more provincial money will go toward the games.
It will also be used for satellite villages to reduce travel time for those participating in the massive international sporting event.
The Liberals says it’s a small increase to the Games’ budget, which is expected to cost about $2.5 billion in total, including security, transportation and the athletes’ village.
The Pan Am Games will run from July 7 to 26, at 34 different competition venues across southern Ontario, from the Niagara Region in the south to as far north as Orillia. (Source: CBC News)