When Toronto plays host to the 2015 PanAm Games, it aims to have a 300,000-square-foot complex to house swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and fencing events.Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press
The federal government is earmarking a grant of more than $100-million for an aquatic centre in Toronto that will serve as the home for swimming during the Pan Am Games.
The official funding announcement and groundbreaking are scheduled for Thursday, government sources said. The federal government has contributed $500-million toward the 2015 Games, including $386-million for infrastructure.
The new aquatic centre, which will be located next to the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus, will be a huge, 34,000-square-metre facility. It will have two 10-lane, 50-metre pools, a five-metre-deep diving tank, and a seating capacity of approximately 6,000. A field house with gymnasium space for training and an indoor recreational track is also part of the plans.
The centre will play host to several events during the Pan Am Games in July, 2015, including swimming, synchronized swimming and diving. The municipal government and the University of Toronto are also contributing to the cost of the centre. After the Games, students, high-performance athletes and the public will have access to both facilities.
Renata D’Aliesio