  James Worrall, 95, who was the Canadian flag bearer at the 1936 Games, and former Olympian Marnie McBean celebrate Toronto's winning bid for the 2015 Pan-Am games. (Mark O'Neill, SUN MEDIA) 
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Toronto has won a bid to host the 2015 Pan American Games.
Just before 5 p.m. tonight the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) in Guadalajara, Mexico, announced that Hogtown had earned the rights to host the games and the Parapan American Games.
"We are thrilled,” stated Toronto 2015 Bid Chair, the Hon. David Peterson in a quick press release from Mexico. “We will work hard to stage the best Pan and Parapan Am Games ever.”
The Pan Am Games are among the premium amateur athletic competitions in the world and is expected to bring 10,000 participants and 250,000 visitors from the 42 participating countries in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.
“We look forward to welcoming the PASO family and athletes from across the Americas and Caribbean to Toronto in 2015,” said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. “In fact, we hope they’ll stay a few weeks to enjoy a province that offers a non-stop summer of fun and excitement.”
Mayor David Miller welcomed the win.
“It was our enthusiasm to welcome the world, our love of sports and the way people from more than 100 countries have come together to build a dynamic, safe and green city that made the difference,” Miller stated. “I know all of Toronto will join us in making every athlete and visitor feel welcome and at home. The Games presents us with a tremendous opportunity to make the kinds of investment in social and sports infrastructure that will benefit Toronto for decades to come.”
Toronto beat out Bogota, Colombia and Lima, Peru, for the games.
The city tabled a $1.4-billion plan to use existing facilities and build six new athletic venues and a well-designed, sustainable athlete’s village on the waterfront.
New venues include a stadium for athletics, indoor velodrome, Canadian Sports Institute facility and Aquatics Centre, as well as two additional 50-metre pools.
