The Pan Am and ParaPan Am Games are set to start in Toronto tomorrow morning. Over 7000 athletes from 41 countries, 1500 journalists, and thousands of supporters and volunteers will herd into the city throughout the next few weeks to watch nations from all over the Americas compete.
Toronto is no stranger to hosting major events like this, especially over the summer months when it’s most beautiful. But as with any festival, there are always issues to work around with the host city. This year, the budget for the games is nearly 3x more expensive than previous games, from almost $1 billion to $3 billion dollars, with the city already in deficit. Lack of interest and ticket sales, hotels being unable to fill vacancies, and the general congestion created in the dense city have been bringing many concerns to the table. These are all things you should care about of course, but if you’re an average Canadian, you just want to have a good time wherever you are because you know that it will be hibernation season soon.
Thankfully the Pan Am Games are also hosting an arts and culture program called Panamania. As you’re roaming the city you will be able to catch over 300 different types of shows. The events feature Cirque du Soleil acts, comedy and fashion shows, dance performances, theatre productions, visual art exhibitions and, of course, music concerts. The best part of all of these events? Nearly all of them are free!
You’ll be able to catch A Tribe Called Red, The Roots, Chromeo, Flaming Lips, Austra and Death From Above 1979 and tons more playing from Nathan Philips Square to the Distillery District. The whole city will essentially be a giant street party.
So if you aren’t filling up the stadiums to watch the sporting events, you will at least have plenty of other ways to spend your afternoon in the city, just remember to be safe!
The Pan Am and ParaPan Am Games are set to start in Toronto tomorrow morning. Over 7000 athletes from 41 countries, 1500 journalists, and thousands of supporters and volunteers will herd into the city throughout the next few weeks to watch nations from all over the Americas compete.
Toronto is no stranger to hosting major events like this, especially over the summer months when it’s most beautiful. But as with any festival, there are always issues to work around with the host city. This year, the budget for the games is nearly 3x more expensive than previous games, from almost $1 billion to $3 billion dollars, with the city already in deficit. Lack of interest and ticket sales, hotels being unable to fill vacancies, and the general congestion created in the dense city have been bringing many concerns to the table. These are all things you should care about of course, but if you’re an average Canadian, you just want to have a good time wherever you are because you know that it will be hibernation season soon.
Thankfully the Pan Am Games are also hosting an arts and culture program called Panamania. As you’re roaming the city you will be able to catch over 300 different types of shows. The events feature Cirque du Soleil acts, comedy and fashion shows, dance performances, theatre productions, visual art exhibitions and, of course, music concerts. The best part of all of these events? Nearly all of them are free!
You’ll be able to catch A Tribe Called Red, The Roots, Chromeo, Flaming Lips, Austra and Death From Above 1979 and tons more playing from Nathan Philips Square to the Distillery District. The whole city will essentially be a giant street party.
So if you aren’t filling up the stadiums to watch the sporting events, you will at least have plenty of other ways to spend your afternoon in the city, just remember to be safe!
