Halifax 2014 Sports Line-up Maximizes Legacy and Benefits

The Halifax 2014 bid committee today, Feb. 16, announced which sports it will include in its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. One of the most important components in the overall bid, the sport program will maximize legacy and benefits for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Commonwealth.

If Canada is successful in the international competition, the Halifax 2014 sports program will include: aquatics, athletics, basketball, boxing (men), badminton, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball (women), rugby 7s (men), shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

"Our sport program is based on hosting a Games that reflects what's important to all 71 Commonwealth nations and territories while developing legacy programs," said Fred MacGillivray, Halifax 2014 chair and president. "These programs will contribute to the development of sport throughout Nova Scotia and across the country long after the 2014 Games have been played."

Today's announcement is consistent with the formal guidelines provided by the Commonwealth Games Federation and is the result of extensive consultation and planning. In building the program, the bid committee has incorporated advice from the sports community as well as feedback from Commonwealth nations and territories.

"Halifax 2014 has chosen individual and team sports that are operationally feasible, will generate spectator interest, and provide opportunities for post-Games use and legacy in Nova Scotia," added Mr. MacGillivray.

Based on Commonwealth Games Federation guidelines, other determining factors included:

• levels of participation within the Commonwealth;
• standards of performance by Commonwealth athletes;
• gender equity;
• marketing appeal;
• cost to the host city and participating countries.

"The release of the Halifax 2014 sport program marks a critical milestone on the road to the final vote in Sri Lanka in November," said Thomas Jones, CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada. "It also demonstrates our commitment to delivering a Games experience that will fully meet the needs and expectations of our Commonwealth partners."

"Bringing the Games to Halifax will mean more than just 10 days of spectacular sport in 2014," said Scott Logan, Halifax 2014 CEO. "It means improved infrastructure, capacity, and experience to become a world-class training centre for summer sports in Canada."

The Commonwealth Games is an international sport and cultural event held every four years in which athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories compete. In December 2005, Halifax won the right to be Canada's candidate city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Halifax 2014's primary partners include Commonwealth Games Canada, the government of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Municipality. The bid's corporate founding partners include Alexander Keith's and The Daily News/Transcontinental Media.

In competition with Glasgow, Scotland and Abuja, Nigeria, the Halifax 2014 Bid Committee is focused on developing and winning the bid, which will be awarded by the Commonwealth Games Federation on Nov. 9 Sri Lanka.

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Halifax 2014 today (February 16th) announced that the sport

program for Canada's bid will maximize legacy and benefits for

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Commonwealth.

If Halifax 2014 is successful in the international

competition, the sports program will include: aquatics,

athletics, basketball, boxing, badminton, cycling, gymnastics,

hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table

tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

Fred MacGillivray, bid president and chair, says the sport

program is based on hosting a Games that reflects what is

important to all 71 Commonwealth nations and territories, while

developing legacy programs that will contribute to the

development of sport throughout Nova Scotia and across the

country.