Amateur Athletes Excel During the 2016 Ontario Summer Games in Mississauga

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Athletes from around the province bid Mississauga adieu yesterday as the 2016 Ontario Summer Games (OSG) came to an end. The four-day event celebrated sport and culture in the city, with opening ceremonies kicking off on August 11.

“We’re so proud to have hosted the Province’s largest Games in history,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “It’s given Mississauga the opportunity to showcase features that make our city so special including our sports facilities, parks, community centres and waterfront.”

Mississauga welcomed more than 3,500 athletes, ages 12 to 18, with 500 officials and thousands of spectators from across Ontario. There were a total of 34 sport events that took place throughout 16 venues in Mississauga and surrounding municipalities including Brampton, Caledon, Etobicoke, Innisfil and Welland.

“As the largest Ontario Summer Games in our province’s history comes to a close, I’m very grateful to the City of Mississauga for their superb delivery of a memorable event,” said Eleanor McMahon, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I’m proud to support events of this nature and know that these Games will leave a lasting legacy for local volunteers, officials and athletes who travelled from across the province, experiencing the important role sport can play in bringing us together.”

More than 2,000 athletes were given medals during the Games.

“As a former Olympic athlete I know how special these Games can be for youth,” said OSG Games Chair and Member of Parliament for Mississauga East–Cooksville, Peter Fonseca. “I am extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be the Mississauga OSG Chair.”

The Ontario Summer Games attracted a number of visitors to Mississauga. The direct economic impact is estimated to be approximately $4.5 million.

“It was an honour to lead this project and contribute to both Mississauga and Ontario history,” said Clara Grassia, Manager of the Games. “It was a true team effort. Thank you to the Government of Ontario, our Members of Council, Leadership team, staff and volunteers who brought the Games to life. OSG brought us all together to share and celebrate in the spirit of sport across the province and ‘bring it home’ to Mississauga.”

As announced earlier this month, the 2018 Ontario Summer Games will be hosted in London Ontario.

As a legacy from the Games, residents can continue to enjoy the beach volleyball facility at Lakefront Promenade in Ward 1 with a new permanent wireless hotspot.

Background:

Games Ontario

The Ontario Summer Games is supported by the Ontario government, through its Games Ontario program. This program delivers or supports multi-sport events, including the Ontario Winter and Summer Games for youth, the Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games and the Ontario ParaSport Games.

Supporting Ontario sporting events is part of Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, which is encouraging as many people as possible to play organized sports, helping Ontario’s high-performance athletes pursue excellence and promoting increased tourism and economic development.

About the City of Mississauga

As Canada’s sixth largest city, Mississauga is home to 752,000 residents and more than 54,000 businesses, including more than 60 Fortune 500 companies with Canadian head offices or major divisional head offices. A diverse, progressive and award-winning municipality located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area. Mississauga is focused on delivering services, implementing its Strategic Plan, delivering value for money and maintaining infrastructure.