Ontario’s cash-strapped Liberals are pumping another $74-million into the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, but say they’re confident they won’t need to turn on the tap again.
TO2015, the organizing committee, asked for the money as it ramps up preparations for the Games next summer, which are expected to cost $2.57-billion, including transportation, security and the athletes’ village.
“I’ve asked them to really go over their books to figure out exactly what those pressures are, and they are quite confident that this is the first and last time that they’ll be asking for additional money,” Michael Coteau, the minister responsible for the Games, said Tuesday.
But some costs may go up, such as the $239-million earmarked for security, in light of new international threats, he said.
The Islamic State is calling for supporters to kill westerners, be they military or civilian, from countries involved in the battle against the Islamic State in northern Iraq – including Canadians.
The committee is expecting to bring in $25-million less than planned in sponsorship revenue. It needs $49-million for other things, including providing a live broadcast of some events, expanding the torch relay to other communities, backup ambulances for athletes and more satellite villages to reduce travel time for participants, they said.
The money will also help pay for staffing in areas where there won’t be enough volunteers, expanding marketing and communications to promote the Games, security for equipment at venues and higher barricades around the athletes’ village and Pan Am park.
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