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City council is debating, however, based on the feedback, it looks like Hamilton will be part of the bidding process. Brian McPherson, CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada, is present at council and is encouraging the city to submit a bid.

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Commonwealth games officials feel 'excitement and energy' in Hamilton visit

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/commonwealth-games-hamilton100-1.5234711

Commonwealth games officials wrapped up a three-day whirlwind tour of Hamilton Friday as the community continues its campaign to bring the event back to the city where it all began for its 100th anniversary.

The 2030 games mark a milestone for both the games and Hamilton, the city where the first-ever version of the games, then known as the British Empire Games, back in 1930.

Since then, every attempt to spark enthusiasm around hosting the games again has fizzled. But this time a community group called Hamilton100 is leading the pack with a focus on engaging the community and building excitement around the games.

That passion wasn't lost on David Grevemberg, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation during his visit to various venues across the city this week.

During a media conference he spoke of a "fantastic swell of enthusiasm, excitement and energy" and said the city could be a "real contender."

"We're really proud to call Hamilton a proud city of the Commonwealth, because the citizens and communities are really benefiting from the power of sport," Grevemberg added, saying the city is home to world-class venues that are already being used to attract business.

100th anniversary no guarantee

As for the idea of circling back to Hamilton for the 100th anniversary, the CEO said doing so would provide an opportunity to showcase how both the games and the city have evolved.

"I think there's some wonderful synergies there. If the planets are aligned and this looks like something that's going to work for everybody … I think there could be some really amazing opportunities."

But, despite the novelty of circling back for such a significant celebration, there's no guarantee the games will wind up in Hamilton.

While the milestone might be important to Canadians, it will most likely be lost on other 70 nations and territories that vote on which city will be host.

"For them it's going to be the 100th anniversary no matter where it's held," pointed out Linda Cuthbert, director of Commonwealth Games Canada and chair of the country's bid and hosting committee.

She said several Canadian cities are interested in hosting the games. Each hopeful will have to submit Part 1 of their hosting plan, including its vision and general ideas around finances and budgeting by Nov. 22.

Part 2 of the plan is due in March and Cuthbert said all levels of government must be on board with a bid before Canada's preferred bid is moved forward internationally.

That's important because while words like "destiny" and "excitement" were tossed around during Friday's update, there are still plenty of unanswered questions around the games.

Hamilton is still at the dialogue stage of the process. The bid is in the exploratory stage meaning the city hasn't locked down the games, let alone been chosen as the Canadian city which will get to try for them.

Business plan will be brought to council in November

Although council has supported Hamilton100's involvement in the bidding process, some councillors are still raising questions about how much of the cost the city will have to carry. Preliminary estimates for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia indicate a price tag of over $1.8 billion. The cost to hold the 2022 games in Birmingham, England is expected to hit about $1.5 million.

Hamilton100 bid president P.J. Mercanti said over the next three months they'll be working to put together a business plan which will be presented to council in November.

He stressed the bid is all about delivering maximum value to Hamilton's citizens, with plans for accessible youth sports programs before and after the games, along with a focus on affordable housing solutions.

Now, thanks to the visit, he added, the team is also armed with new "operating models and efficiencies" passed along by the commonwealth federations which will help reduce the cost of the games and make sure they're "right-sized" for the city.

In the meantime, Mercanti said, the biggest challenge they face is making sure everyone in Hamilton — including council —understands the benefits the games could bring.

"The games are a catalyst for change in the community," he explained. "It's more than just sport. It's about community building."

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Hamilton agrees to partner with Hamilton 100 group to bid on 2030 Commonwealth Games

https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/9545554-hamilton-agrees-to-partner-with-hamilton-100-group-to-bid-on-2030-commonwealth-games/?fbclid=iwar2-q-a3mslvvk0r-fdtskxecexx8gdoai29s1qtn8uqxspthrhhbwldvsi

Hamilton councillors have agreed to partner with a private sector effort to land the 100th Commonwealth Games in the city where the sporting event began.

The general issues committee agreed Aug. 12 to a memorandum of understanding that allows the city the flexibility to exit the process if it wants to, while also assuming no financial or legal obligations in the bid process for the Games.

The cost for the Games could reach over $1 billion, officials have said. The 2018 Games in Australia cost over $1.8 billion, while the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014 and the 2022 Games in Birmingham, England, are about $1.5 billion.

Jasper Kujavsky, vice-chair of the Hamilton 100 group that will be making a bid to Commonwealth Games Canada to be the Canadian city to host the Games, was pleased with the decision.

“Our side wants to sign (the memorandum of understanding),” he said.

The document addresses both parties’ primary objectives including areas of collaborations, due diligence, communications, contacts and effective dates. It also states that the city “shall assume no liability for any obligations” from the bid proposal.

Hamilton will provide the group with advice in such areas as affordable housing, health and wellness, tourism, economic development, sport development, recreation, security and special events.

Kujavsky said currently Hamilton is the only Canadian city that has made it clear it will be putting a bid in to host the 2030 Games.

The Games began in 1930 in Hamilton and were then called the British Empire Games.

P.J. Mercanti, who is heading the Hamilton 100 effort, has already told councillors that the “100th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the city to host the Games.

Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead, a supporter of the city making a bid for the Games, said such an event could allow the city to address such pressing issues as affordable housing, poverty, jobs and training.

“If our ducks are aligned, we will be hosting the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Kujavsky said by approving the document it will allow the group to prepare a Phase 1 document for council on the bid that will be before councillors Nov. 6. The group must submit a hosting proposal document to Commonwealth Games Canada by Nov. 22. The document will include information about the impact the games will have on the community, programs, dates, venues, financial estimates and stakeholder assistance.

Commonwealth Games Canada is scheduled to select its preferred city to host the games in the spring of 2020.

Representatives from Commonwealth Games Canada and the Commonwealth Games Federation were in Hamilton recently to tour the city and visited potential sporting event locations.

“We were very excited by the site visit,” said Kujavsky.

Kujavsky said the decision by council, scheduled for Aug. 16, will also allow the group to launch a Hamilton 100 website and create a presence on social media.

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On 8/3/2019 at 12:31 PM, Apple said:

"The games are a catalyst for change in the community," he explained. "It's more than just sport. It's about community building."

Good luck with that - most of the Gold Coasters feel the Games were alienating and not worth the multiple years long inconvenience.  

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On 8/13/2019 at 11:46 AM, thatsnotmypuppy said:

Good luck with that - most of the Gold Coasters feel the Games were alienating and not worth the multiple years long inconvenience.  

Got a feeling that 2030 will be the last Games...They have so fallen into irrelevance that no one cares anymore. 

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21 hours ago, Alexjc said:

Got a feeling that 2030 will be the last Games...They have so fallen into irrelevance that no one cares anymore. 

I hear this a lot and frankly major changes need to be made. The Commonwealth Games should maybe fully integrate 'Paralympic' sports on an equal footing (same amount of able bodied and non-able bodied athletes), perhaps take a leaf out of the Asian Winter Games book and invite a couple of sporting superpowers to the party and finally look at the sporting programme and scale back those sports that already have sufficient international championships/exposure.

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On 9/14/2019 at 7:28 PM, Alexjc said:

Got a feeling that 2030 will be the last Games...They have so fallen into irrelevance that no one cares anymore. 

Does it still matter to the athletes and the host cities? The various continental games get little television coverage, but they do matter a great deal to the athletes (especially for athletes in the sports with Olympic qualification on the line) and to the host city. And that's all that is really needed for these events to survive. That said, Olympic qualification is an enormous advantage for the continental games over the Commonwealth Games in ensuring athlete interest.

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1 hour ago, Nacre said:

Does it still matter to the athletes and the host cities? The various continental games get little television coverage, but they do matter a great deal to the athletes (especially for athletes in the sports with Olympic qualification on the line) and to the host city. And that's all that is really needed for these events to survive. That said, Olympic qualification is an enormous advantage for the continental games over the Commonwealth Games in ensuring athlete interest.

Valid points - but the Comm Games are costing in excess of a billion dollaridoos these days.  There has to be a way to bring that right down - and the CGF is a good position to lead the way in making these multisport events cheaper.

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Hamilton 100 proposes new sports complexes and big upgrades in bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/commonwealth-games-proposal-hamilton-1.5347274

The community group hoping to bring the 2030 Commonwealth Games to Hamilton is proposing the construction of three new multi-sport complexes, affordable housing, and upgrades to facilities across the city as part of its pitch to get the games.

The proposal by Hamilton 100, a group advocating for the city to play host, will go before city council's general issues committee on Wednesday. The document outlines its vision, the potential impact of the games, and includes details on venues and stakeholder interest. 

The document does not include any dollar figures. The 2030 games are an important anniversary, as Hamilton hosted the first version of the games in 1930,

The city gave a go-ahead to Hamilton 100 to come up with a vision, but hasn't committed to pursuit of the games. But deadlines are approaching for the city to decide if it is on board.  

Each Canadian city interested in hosting the games will have to submit Part 1 of their plans, which includes vision and a financial plan, to Commonwealth Games Canada by Nov. 22. 

....

Here's how Hamilton 100 is suggesting the city prepares for the event. 

According to the proposal, the three multi-sport complexes proposed are within the city's 10-year sport development plan and will host badminton, squash, and table tennis during the games. 

The buildings would also range in size, with the biggest being large enough to fit eight basketball courts. 

Around half of the thousands of seats put in for the games would be retractable, allowing the centres to use them for regional competitions afterwards. The centres, each with meeting rooms, a weight room and physio room, would also be designed to offer a mix of courts for sports like basketball, volleyball or badminton. 

The three buildings include: 

  • The smallest building at 63,000 square feet with 960 retractable seats. 
  • A second building at 90,000 square feet with 1,400 retractable seats. 
  • A third centre at 98,000 square feet with 1,800 retractable seats. 

....

There are other proposed upgrades to venues across the city, regardless of whether a new FirstOntario Centre is ready or not. Some of them include: 

  • At Mohawk Sports park, permanent field hockey venues and a new recreational plaza and field house. 
  • At Gage Park, a new field house with permanent indoor tennis courts. 
  • At McMaster University, a 50-metre competition pool/outdoor tank under a coverall building, which will be converted into two 25 metre pools to be used in two new recreation centres.
  • In Eastwood Park, a concrete slab for 3x3 basketball, which can be flooded and frozen for community rinks come winter.
  • At Confederation Park, a shaded-glass pavilion for indoor beach volleyball, with large overhead doors to open during good weather. 

Hamilton 100 is also suggesting a massive overhaul to Bayfront Park. For the triathlon event, they propose to reshape Bayfront Park to allow for natural water movement to circulate. The group says this would "fully address" the green algae issue that has been plaguing its waters. 

The design would result in two islands, which would be connected with bridges. 

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Hamilton OKs plan to bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games, but wants to scrutinize it first
Estimates indicate hosting the games would cost about $1.5B

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/commonwealth-games-1.5358854

The city has given the OK to a community group looking to bring the 2030 Commonwealth Games to Hamilton, but it will do a risk assessment to make sure it's not on the hook for unforeseen costs.

Hamilton city council voted Wednesday to order an independent peer review of whatever financial model Hamilton 150 will use to make a pitch for the games. It also wants its staff to look at the proposal and identify any risks, including cost overruns.

"The peer review is to make sure we're comfortable with their financial model," said Coun. Brad Clark of Ward 9. "It's not our proposal, it's theirs."

Otherwise, city council is supporting Hamilton 100, a group advocating that the city play host to the games 11 years from now. The group's plan includes three new multi-sport complexes, more affordable housing, and upgrades to facilities using what it hopes is money from the provincial and federal governments.

Hamilton 100 outlined its vision earlier this month with a document that doesn't include dollar figures. The 2030 games are an important anniversary, the group says, because Hamilton hosted the first version of the games in 1930.

Each Canadian city interested in hosting the games will have to submit Part 1 of their plans, which includes vision and a financial plan, to Commonwealth Games Canada by Nov. 22.

The cost to host the games varies. Glasgow, Scotland spent around $300 million Canadian dollars when it hosted in 2014. Preliminary estimates for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia indicate a price tag of over $1.8 billion.

The cost to hold the 2022 games in Birmingham, England is expected to hit about $1.5 billion.

Brian MacPherson, CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada previously told Hamilton city councillors that the total cost can run around $1.5 billion.

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Let's be honest - it isn't Halifax, Toronto is not going to undercut Hamilton and Vancouver just doesn't care.  Unless some idiots in Calgary have a wild need for another public slapdown it must be Edmonton.  Or the Quebecois having a he!! of a laugh.  How wild would a Quebec City Commonwealth Games be lol.

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3 hours ago, thatsnotmypuppy said:

Let's be honest - it isn't Halifax, Toronto is not going to undercut Hamilton and Vancouver just doesn't care.  Unless some idiots in Calgary have a wild need for another public slapdown it must be Edmonton.  Or the Quebecois having a he!! of a laugh.  How wild would a Quebec City Commonwealth Games be lol.

Plus Hamilton's bid has one venue in Toronto (for diving). I doubt its Toronto

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On 11/27/2019 at 6:40 PM, thatsnotmypuppy said:

Let's be honest - it isn't Halifax, Toronto is not going to undercut Hamilton and Vancouver just doesn't care.  Unless some idiots in Calgary have a wild need for another public slapdown it must be Edmonton.  Or the Quebecois having a he!! of a laugh.  How wild would a Quebec City Commonwealth Games be lol.

This won lol!!!

 

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