Windsor to host 2014 Ontario Summer Games

By Justin Prince

Windsor City Council has approved a proposal to host a provincial sports competition in 2014.

A decision was made Oct. 7 in a 10-2 vote that will allow Windsor to host the 2014 Ontario Summer Games next August.

Sports Alliance Ontario began searching for a new host for the 2014 Ontario Summer Games after the Niagara Falls, Ont. region council refused to be liable for any deficits.

According to Mayor Eddie Francis, he found about the event two to three weeks ago.

“It came to me something had happened with the previous host and needed somebody to host the 2014 games,” said Francis.  “They were out there looking for expressions of interest.”

The Summer Games are the largest amateur sporting event for both team and individual sports in Ontario according to the SAO’s website.  They started in 1970 as the Ontario Winter Games in Etobicoke, Ont.  The summer games followed in 1973 in Oshawa.

The Niagara Falls bid fell through due to a miscommunication between the Niagara Sport Commission and the Regional Council.  The reason, according to Francis, was the liability clause was “never heard before the meeting” so Niagara councillors weren’t prepared to support it.

“There is a similar provision in for the Ontario 55+ Summer Games,” said Francis.  “Windsor and Amherstburg are on the hook for a deficit.”  The Ontario 55+ Summer Games were awarded to Windsor earlier this year.

The SAO did not reply to an interview request.

Francis is proposing a $2.5 million budget, based on the city’s experience with the International Children’s Games and previous summer games in 2010 and 2012.

“I had a talk with the CEO [of the games] and he says our numbers are way too high.  They tell me they’ve never had an event with so many expenses,” said Francis.  “…we are responsible for everything once the athletes get here and part of their travel.”

According to Francis, the SAO said the budget wouldn’t go over $1.5 million.  Francis also said the games would “complement” the 55+ games, as both events take place in August 2014.  Francis said the games will change how the rest of the province views Windsor.

“The benefit of the games with people from Ontario is to bring athletes and families into our region and to be able to tell our stories and show them our city,” said Francis.

The games require funding from county towns.  As of Oct. 11, negotiations, which stalled the week prior, resumed.

Francis said he hopes the county will participate in the games in 2014.  He said his request from county council is for a “fifty-fifty partnership,” or $700,000.

According to council documents, the city has prepared possible solutions for all but one of the venues for the 22 sports in the competition if the county doesn’t participate.

Ward 3 Coun. Fulvio Valentinis said he is supporting the games bid.  He said he is “really struck” knowing Windsor has never hosted the Ontario Summer Games.

“What really struck me was how many communities have hosted this event and even more striking the number of communities smaller than Windsor that have hosted it,” said Valentinis.

Ward 10 Coun. Al Maghnieh also supports the summer games bid, saying Windsor is doing the province “a huge favour.”

“If we can pull this off and do a great job, they’re going to keep coming,” said Maghnieh.  “And we will keep doing more events, and that’s very important.”

Ward 4 councillor Alan Halberstabt said he is against the games bid due to there being too many events planned at once.

“I think at some point you have to say enough is enough and this particular event, especially since we’ll be paying for travel expenses, I don’t feel it is appropriate,” said Halberstadt.