Life Is Better On Vacation: Pan Am Games (Toronto)

Friday, 10 July 2015

Pan Am Games (Toronto)

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: Nathan Phillips Square
Date: July 2015
Website: www.toronto2015.org

The Pan Am Games are coming to Toronto. Everywhere you look you see the signs. Buses and subways are covered over in ads promoting the games. There is a giant countdown clock sitting in Nathan Phillips Square which is counting down to the very second that the games begin. Across the street from Nathan Phillips Square, The Sheraton Centre has a huge banner hanging down the side proclaiming "The games are coming".

We were even in Niagara Falls, Ontario and noticed this floral display.

There are also lots of strange signs appearing around the city. For example, we spotted this building which was labelled UDAC and was flying the Pan Am Games flag out front. We discovered that UDAC stands for Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre and that this is where all of the volunteers go to obtain their uniforms.

Back in Nathan Phillips Square (or should we say NPS) the area has become a main location for enjoying the games.

Just outside the square in front of Old City Hall, we spotted PACHI on top of a bus shelter. PACHI the porcupine is the official mascot of the games. He has 41 coloured quills on his back and each one represents a participating country. The games are open to North American, South American, and Caribbean countries. The Pan Am Games are held every four years and are the next biggest summer sporting event behind the Olympics.

As we entered the square we could see the scaffolding getting ready for Panamania. Panamania is a series of free concerts being held around Toronto for the duration of the games. There are also plans to broadcast some of the sporting events live on giant screens.

On the west side of the square is a temporary Pan Am Games Superstore where you can get all your souvenirs from the games. This includes Pan Am T-shirts, hats, buttons, PACHI dolls or merchandise to show your support for a particular country. We received some free PACHI stickers just for walking inside to take a look.

The countdown clock is getting ever closer to the Opening Ceremonies which take place tonight (July 10 2015). There are actually two clocks. One counts down to the start of the Pan Am Games, and the second counts down to the start of the Parapan Am portion which runs August 7th to 15th. The clock counts down all day and night until the final second passes. Let the games begin!