The Canada Games Council announced September 12 that Ottawa is among the cities advancing to the second phase of the bid process to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

The Games are Canada’s largest multi-sport event for the next generation of national team athletes and represent the pinnacle of interprovincial/territorial sport competition. In addition to the 4,600 elite Canadian athletes who would compete at the Games, the event would bring thousands of family members, members of the media, officials and tourists to Ottawa.

“Today’s announcement is exciting news for our city as we prepare to move to the next phase in the bid process,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “I am proud of the work already done by our bid committee and I am confident that their experience and enthusiasm for sports will continue to promote our city as the destination of choice for the Canada Summer Games in 2021.”

The Canada Summer Games were last held in Sherbrooke, Québec in 2013, where they attracted 16,000 visitors and generated an estimated $165 million in economic impact.

“The economic benefit of hosting the Games would be a significant boost to our city and for our local businesses,” said Councillor Jody Mitic, the City’s Sport Commissioner. “It also provides an opportunity for residents to experience firsthand national-calibre sporting events where they can cheer on our Canadian athletes.”

The move to the next phase in the bid process follows:

• The City’s Letter of Intent to Bid submission in May, which launched the process.
• The Canada Games Technical Review Committee’s (TRC) visit to Ottawa on August 22 to conduct site visits to the Games Village and selected sport and non-sport venues. Sites visited included: the Nepean Sportsplex; Walter Baker Park; Lansdowne Park, including TD Place Stadium and TD Place Arena; the Terry Fox Athletic Facility; Carlington Park; the University of Ottawa; Carleton University; the Rockcliffe Yacht Club; and, the Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club.
• The Bid Evaluation Committee’s review of the TRC’s evaluation and recommendation, including any conditions required.

The City will now submit its Phase 2 – Comprehensive Host Community Bid proposal, showing the strength of the bid and overwhelming community support. The proposal will be evaluated by the Canada Games Council and scored against other bids from Greater Sudbury, Niagara Region, and a partnership between the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge. An announcement of the successful bidder is expected on March 30 or 31, 2017.

The Canada Games rank alongside other major sporting events like the Grey Cup, World Junior Hockey Championship and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) championships. The games are a two-week long sporting event that would take place in late July and early August of 2021.

Promoting the nation’s capital as an ideal location for major national and international events and conventions is a cornerstone of the City’s economic development plan. The City developed the Bid More, Win More, Host More strategy in partnership with Ottawa Tourism to promote Ottawa as a world-class event hosting destination, create jobs and grow our local economy.