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Golf and rugby sevens will be played at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, a year before they’re contested in Rio.
Both are among the 36-sport program approved by the Pan American Sports Organization. The program, still to be rubber-stamped by the Inter-national Olympic Committee, includes all 28 Olympic sports set for the 2016 Rio Games, along with Pan Am-only sports such as softball, baseball and bowling.
The question now would be if the Bermuda Olympic Association will be approached by both National Sports Governing Bodies to see if there is interest from either Sport to challenge for a position at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Canada will be considered favorites for the tournament played in the home of Rugby Canada, their emergence as an international force in Rugby Sevens continued to grow this past weekend as they won the Plate in Las Vegas on the HSBC World Sevens Series.
TO2015’s CEO Ian Troop announced the news on a quarterly report conference call Tuesday. Men’s softball will be played at the Pan Ams for the first time since 2003. The sport made its Pan Am debut in 1979 and Canada won all seven gold medals culminating in the 2003 Pan Am Games.
“I am ... very excited to have the opportunity to play in Toronto in front of family, friends and many of the Toronto area fans,” said national team player Andy Skelton. “Softball has been a big part of the Toronto community and for it to host an international competition will pull many people who have been involved at many levels to provide a truly amazing environment to play in.”
Troop also announced the Games remain on budget - $647 million for capital bills and $767 million for operations, for a total $1.441 billion. TO2015 has reached 65 per cent of its targeted sponsorship revenue of $102 million, he said, adding they’ve already received almost double the sponsorship Guadalajara got for the 2011 Games.
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