Infrastructure Ontario and TO2015 are working collaboratively with the Town of Markham, the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto to build the selected venues to accommodate swimming, waterpolo, badminton and field hockey competitions during the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.
Markham Pool and Field House
The new Markham Pool and Field House facility will host water polo and badminton for the Games. Following the Games, community residents of all ages will have access to the state-of-the-art facility including amenities such as the gymnasium, multi-purpose program areas, fitness and training facilities and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The 10-lane, 52 x 25 metre Olympic size swimming pool will feature a moveable floor and two one- metre movable bulkheads and will have a total seating capacity of 2,000 that includes 1,000 permanent fixed seats and 1,000 temporary seats. The field house will have a maximum seating capacity of 2,000 that includes 1,000 permanent retractable seats and 1,000 temporary seats. It will house fitness facilities and approximately 34, 000 square feet of flexible gymnasium space for training and competition.
Etobicoke Olympium Pool
The Etobicoke Olympium is an existing facility that focuses on the needs of the community as well as the development and promotion of amateur competitive sports. The Olympium is a multi-sport facility that includes an Olympic-size pool, a leisure pool, gymnasium and fitness centre.
During the Games, this venue will be a training site for aquatic disciplines including swimming, water polo, diving and synchronized swimming.
Upgrades to the facility will involve renovating the existing pool to meet Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) requirements, and improving the mechanical and electrical systems.
The Pan American Field Hockey Centre (University of Toronto)
This new development will provide key sport infrastructure to the university and surrounding community and will help build the profile of field hockey in the province.
The facility will be Ontario's first dedicated international field hockey venue. Complete with two competition fields meeting international specifications, it will be a focal point for national and provincial teams, and will play host to all levels of the game, from international events to local grass roots leagues. It will also greatly extend the months of playing time - in field hockey and many other sports - for the tens of thousands of University of Toronto students who will use it each year.
Plans include the two fields to be located on University of Toronto lands.
About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
The Pan and Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials to municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.