Get ready, get set: the Pan American Games are coming

This year, Toronto plays host to the 17th Pan Am Games, which will see 41 participating nations, 36 sports and 52 disciplines come together in the love of sport. After winning 119 medals at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, Canada has set the bar high and is hoping to surpass this achievement on its home turf this summer. Here’s a look at some key events that’ll make city traffic this summer all worth it.

TORCH RELAY
The Torch Relay will be passing through Vaughan on June 24 at 1:30 p.m., at City Hall, located at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr. in Maple. The torch will first be lit in Teotihuacan, Mexico, and will make the 41-day journey using over 60 modes of transportation to Toronto, spreading the spirit and history of the games over 130 communities.

PANAMANIA
Sports not your thing? No problem; you can still join in with Panamania, the arts and cultural side of Pan Am. With four different events presented by the Games’ lead sponsor, CIBC, there’s a lot to see with performances in music, theatre, dance, visual arts and fashion. This 35-day-long festival will showcase more than 250 performances and exhibitions across Toronto.

PANAM PARK
CIBC Panam Park will host the majority of the Games with 13 competitions held at multiple venues. Ontario Place will host water ski/wakeboard competitions and the triathlon, while the Exhibition Centre will be the place to be for all things roller-skating, rugby sevens and more. The Toronto Coliseum will house the gymnastic discipline, and the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre will hold none other than the beach volleyball games.

AQUATICS CENTRE
A whole slew of events, such as diving, fencing and swimming, will be held at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House in Scarborough. Construction on the Norr Architects-designed facility began in July 2012 on a plot of campus land jointly owned by the University of Toronto Scarborough and the City of Toronto at a cost of $205 million.

ATHLETIC CENTRE
The Ryerson Athletic Centre will host the much-buzzed-about basketball competition, where it has been confirmed that Anthony Bennett will suit up for Team Canada. Speculation is still swirling on whether Minnesota Timberwolves teammate and Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins will be joining him.

TRACK & FIELD CENTRE
York University has installed a brand-new Track & Field Centre especially for the Games. Check out the massive stadium for all track and field events, which will take place from July 21- 25. Tennis fan? You can also catch all the action at the Rexall Centre from July 10-14.

ATOS MARKHAM & ANGUS GLEN GOLF CLUB
The Games will descend upon Markham at two different venues: the Atos Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre, where the badminton, table tennis and water polo competitions will be held, as well as the Angus Glen Golf Club and Conference Centre, where golf — one of four new disciplines to be included this year — will light up the green. Other newcomers include women’s rugby sevens, canoe/kayak-slalom and women’s baseball, which will take place at various locations across Toronto.

Toronto’s Pan Am Games will run from July 10-26, followed by the Parapan Am Games, which will take place from August 7-15. Tickets start as low as $20 for adults and are half price for those 16 and younger or over the age of 65. Tickets are available on the official Pan Am website.
Toronto2015.org

Photos Courtesy of TO2015