Volunteering for ‘Toronto 2015’

Panam/ParaPan Am Games

July 8-August15/15




Opening Ceremony Fireworks

Front Seat View from my deck.

Toronto 2015

Volunteering at the Panam/Parapan Games was a truly amazing experience. As a T1 driver, it was my job to drive clients to many of the fabulous venues throughout the GTA. I was very fortunate to spend the better part of the games with one of the senior medical staff (blood doping doctor) who was required to do much of the testing for medal events. (he was full of stories) We would be at each venue for several hours and he would do his work while I

watched various competitions and medal ceremonies.

Markham-Badminton

Shooting with my Phone

As drivers, it was suggested that we not take photographs of our clients unless they agreed, as well as athletes and their families. Knowing this, I decided to leave all my regular paraphernalia at home and just shoot with my phone, which was quick, discreet and easy to shove in my pocket. Because there were dedicated media everywhere, and specific areas for them, I felt less inclined to pull out my equipment when they were working so hard to do their

PAC-Panam Aquatic Centre

work. I actually discovered a few new things about video, slo-mo, panorama and the editing/effects features. I do have a micro 4/3rd’s camera but decided to stick to the phone for this entire event. Actually, it was quite liberating and fun. As well, I never knew where I was heading on any particular day until I received a call nor at what time I was leaving. Basically, it was an open ended

12 hour shift…lots of waiting around, but plenty to witness and lots of time to get to know clients. The people I was fortunate to meet

were so interesting and extremely excited to be in our city. Most commented on what a great job Toronto did as a host from the construction of venues to moving athletes and families around. Comments about how much respect Torontonians have for everyone who shares their city with them left me feeling very proud.

Milton Velodrome

Legacy of the Games

The venues were nothing short of outstanding. Although not all of them were brand new, there were just enough new ones built to benefit the communities they are situated in. Markham has new gymnasiums and a fabulous pool. The University of Toronto has a world class pool and field house with four gymnasiums in constant use already. Those in the neighbourhood, alumni and students will be using this facility. Diving, synchronized swimming and ‘regular’ swimming competitions were held here. The Milton velodrome, seen

above, is simply amazing and although it will be mostly used for training high end athletes, ‘the regulars’, including one of my kids, can test out their riding skills with instruction on the track. Welland has a new ‘flatwater’ centre, it being the epi-center for those sports as well.

Beach Volleyball at Panam Park

Waterpolo-Markam

Many venues such as beach volleyball, waterskiing/wakeboarding at Ontario Place, road racing, etc. were temporary and removed afterwards. A few others were already in existence and merely

‘vamped up’ with an influx of improvements specifically for the games, but of great benefit for their respective communities later.

PAC-University of Toronto

Sporting Surprises

The very delightful part of the games was witnessing the sports I generally do not see or even realize are a ‘competitive’ sport. Take ‘shooting’ for example; rapid fire pistol shooting…who knew, it was an international competitive sport??? Our Canadian girl won gold! AND we all had to wear earplugs…that was really something to witness.

A Couple of Canadian Skeet Sharpshooters

And then there was ‘skeet’ shooting. The gold medalist was 56 years old (young) and had been competing all of his life. He was a Peruvian whom I met later downtown in his civilian clothes. All I had to do was hold my hand up like a little gun and he just howled…there was no Spanish needed. He was a gem…so friendly and appreciative of being recognized. (And I don’t particularly like guns)

Necessities at the Innisfil Shoot Center

Rapid Fire Pistol-Innisfil Shooting Center

The Village

The Village was the primary reason for my volunteering. Besides living exceptionally close to it, the construction process was a massive undertaking, first removing all of the contaminated soil, day

after day, and then refilling the whole area. The condos will be occupied very soon and the entire area will open up a ‘pedestrian’ walkway towards downtown Toronto. During the games it was filled with young athletes and truly a vibrant, positive, exciting place to be. These young people (and a few older ones) had no worries there, except to focus on their sport and enjoying the whole experience of international competition. Security there was crazy tight. A special ‘extra’ pass was needed to get in and without it you sat in your car.

Athletes enjoyed visiting everything that was going on in the city as was evident by the numbers on the TTC. The artistic portion of this international event, ‘PANAMANIA’, was a hit with many tourists, athletes and locals, all of it free. City hall was abuzz with music, dancing and fireworks every night. Other venues at harbour front, the distillery and every location in the GTA had something relating to the PANAMANIA portion of the games.

Raquetball at the Coliseum

Archery at Varsity Stadium - U of T

Judo at the Hershey Center-Mississauga

My Favourite Part

To see so many dedicated, inspired athletes with disabilities of all sorts in one place striving and competing with such focus was nothing short of inspirational. The events had an extremely sophisticated categorization of disabilities, enabling as level a playing field as possible. Blind persons on tandem bikes with sighted partners, cyclists with lower extremity disabilities on hand cycles,

persons with neural disabilities relating to balance, on large tricycles and persons missing limbs on regular bikes all competed in

Hand Cyclist - High Park

the road racing, as one example. In the pool as well, small persons

competing with those missing a limb, or those without sight and persons with a neurological disability would all compete in the same race, depending on the level of classification of the particular



Tandem Cyclists - Sighted Rider up Front

Parapanam Games Opening Ceremony - York U.

Sitting Volleyball

disability. It was amazing to see. Some events had particular rules which enable a more ‘adaptive’ version of the sport. In tennis two bounces of the ball was allowed, enabling the athletes to have more time to move their wheelchairs across the court. ‘Sitting volleyball’ had everyone ‘sitting’ on the court, playing with a lowered version of the net.

Wheelchair Tennis - U of T (Scarborough)

It was fascinating, interesting and exciting all at the same time. The common thread between the Panam and Parapan Am Games was the determination, enthusiasm and focus of the athletes. Volunteering for the games was definitely a privilege and something I will never forget.


Panam Mornings…

Well Done Toronto!

Submitted by: Joanne Quinn