Pan Am Games to set precedent for LGBTQ inclusivity: PrideHouse organizers

Canada’s Pan Am team isn’t just its largest ever for this event; it’s also considered the strongest.

“We’re very envious of that, because to sell out stadiums in Canada is phenomenal”, said Kish. “It’s a really significant opportunity for our athletes, and that for us is our No. 1 objective: to see success at an unprecedented level for our athletes”. It’s the largest Canadian team ever assembled for a multi-sport Games.

Canada’s men’s team most likely has already done enough to secure its Olympic spot.

In 2011, the Canadians beat the American twice en route to the Pan Am final. The USA athletes entered are 2012 Olympian Dennis Bowsher and Nathan Schrimsher.

The men’s basketball team is short on big names and the first US PanAm Games golf team will feature top amateurs.

Ontario supports its athletes year round with direct financial assistance through the Quest for Gold program. Dressed head to toe in red and white, complete with red and white baseball caps, the athletes weaved congo-line style through the crowd as a band played.

Toronto 2015 organizers say this will be the first time in Pan Am history the gam…

“I’m looking forward to seeing some fast swims in Toronto”. I saw a lot of old athletes like me that have done this so many times. “With my best race I can get the gold, and that’s what I’m focussed on now”. “Everybody’s excited to be a part of it”.

“To me, the real crucial question one asks oneself before making a decision on bidding for the Olympics again would be how well did the Pan Am Games go?”

“All these controversies are really just how you frame them”, said the Oakville, Ont., native.

“Demand is up. We’re selling three or four times what we were selling a month ago and our sponsors have finalized their ticket purchases”, said Games spokesman Teddy Katz. It’s jsut a little bit worse now.

In other men’s matches, Venezuela tied Mexico 9-9 and the USA routed Ecuador 27-0.

Several events will be Rio 2016 Olympic qualifiers, setting the stage for fierce competition among some of the world’s best athletes.

Harnett mentioned Canada’s baseball and softball teams, which hope to put the sports back in the spotlight in their request to return to the Olympic program in 2020.

Though McLeod won’t be in town to participate in the festivities, the self-described “Olympics-obsessed” athlete said she plans to watch the Pan Am Games from Houston and cheer for her World Cup teammates, many of whom are representing Canada in the worldwide competition. They last played in 2008 in Beijing, where they finished 11th.

“It’s obviously a hard one because it’s on your mind throughout of the season and it’s a big event”, Canadian coach Liam Middleton said of the Olympic setback. With three days to go till the official open of the Pan Am Games, the chiefs of the Toronto 2015 organizing committee report to the Pan American Sports Organization, saying all is ready.