For immediate release: November 6, 2009
Toronto – Despite articulate community opposition, and a recent City TV poll where viewers overwhelmingly voted down the idea, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) made a decision today that Toronto will host the 2015 Pan American Games. No Games Toronto (NGT), a dedicated group of students and community members, has opposed the Games since May 2009 because the government’s $2.4 billion commitment to the Pan-Am bid, which comes with a blank cheque from the province for any cost overruns, does not consider the needs of Torontonians, especially during a recession. The money is going towards elaborate sport venues and other developments that ignore the immediate priorities of citizens including public swimming pools, community centres, day care facilities, affordable postsecondary education and better health care.
“How can our government spend an exorbitant amount of our money on a one-time sporting event and then blame their funding cuts for desperately needed public services on the economic downturn?” asked Joeita Gupta, NGT spokesperson.
NGT has been raising awareness about the impact of mega-sporting events such as the Pan American Games through a flying squad bus during PASO’s visit to Toronto and numerous pickets and rallies. The University of Toronto has plans to build three Olympic-sized sports facilities, costing over $220 million to taxpayers and students and has significantly increased tuition fees.
“Resistance to these Games will grow and continue over the time leading up to and during the event,” stated Murphy Browne, also a spokesperson for NGT.
The government is not spending taxpayers’ dollars wisely in the interests of its citizens. We need a stable economic plan and mega-sporting events result in debt, not profit. Both Montreal and Winnipeg were left with enormous debts since hosting the Olympics and Pan Am Games respectively. Promises of jobs, infrastructure, affordable housing and economic boosts are empty. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games have an estimated cost of $6 billion, up from an original estimate of $660 million and the commitment to build affordable housing is cancelled due to mismanagement of the athlete’s village construction.Toronto – Despite articulate community opposition, and a recent City TV poll where viewers overwhelmingly voted down the idea, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) made a decision today that Toronto will host the 2015 Pan American Games. No Games Toronto (NGT), a dedicated group of students and community members, has opposed the Games since May 2009 because the government’s $2.4 billion commitment to the Pan-Am bid, which comes with a blank cheque from the province for any cost overruns, does not consider the needs of Torontonians, especially during a recession. The money is going towards elaborate sport venues and other developments that ignore the immediate priorities of citizens including public swimming pools, community centres, day care facilities, affordable postsecondary education and better health care.
“How can our government spend an exorbitant amount of our money on a one-time sporting event and then blame their funding cuts for desperately needed public services on the economic downturn?” asked Joeita Gupta, NGT spokesperson.
NGT has been raising awareness about the impact of mega-sporting events such as the Pan American Games through a flying squad bus during PASO’s visit to Toronto and numerous pickets and rallies. The University of Toronto has plans to build three Olympic-sized sports facilities, costing over $220 million to taxpayers and students and has significantly increased tuition fees.
“Resistance to these Games will grow and continue over the time leading up to and during the event,” stated Murphy Browne, also a spokesperson for NGT.
No Games Toronto will continue its work. Toronto needs a deep investment in public services; not a gamble in a one-time mega sporting event.
