The private sector led effort seeks to recapture Ontario’s leadership in the Commonwealth Sporting movement through innovative approaches to Games planning, impact and legacy.

Hamilton (July 14, 2022) The community led organization seeking to return the Commonwealth Games to Canada for their centenary, after a 90 + year absence in Ontario, has now submitted a comprehensive and innovative hosting proposal to the provincial and federal governments inviting the commencement of a multi-party agreement negotiation aimed at finalizing a Canadian bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The proposal represents the culmination of over two years of stakeholder consultation with a large number of regional municipalities, senior levels of government, the private sector, educational institutions and indigenous nations to optimize the impact and legacy for the 2030 Commonwealth Games worthy of the ground breaking 1930 Empire Games. This effort

was formally embraced by the City of Hamilton on July 4 and comes on the heels of the Province appointing newly elected Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP, Neil Lumsden, as Ontario’s new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Highlights of the hosting proposal include:

• a strong regional footprint for the Games throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region West (GGHRW) showcasing an internationally compelling mix of communities, cultures and attractions materially boosting tourism and trade;
• a vision for these Games that seeks to transition from planning for an event of limited duration to catalyzing a movement, led by the private, educational and not for profit sectors, centered on building more peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities in the near term as its defining impact and legacy ambition;
• a focus on value for Ontarians by curating a Games that thoughtfully integrates existing sport assets with new infrastructure delivered almost entirely at private sector expense;
• unprecedented Indigenous participation to include representation in all matters of governance, management and operations;

• prioritizing financial resources and improved facilities that will showcase Canada, Ontario and GGHRW athletes, inspiring the next generation of competitors and set the stage for greater success at the 2032 and 2036 Olympic & Paralympic Games; and,
• inviting consultation and community engagement in presenting a festival of arts, culture and sport worthy of the centenary celebration of the only international multi-sport event given birth in Ontario

In the words of Bid President PJ Mercanti: “We view this more agile model as better reflective of our current circumstances societally, more sustainable as an approach, and ultimately leading to a stronger more differentiated international bid.”

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, a tireless champion of the Games initiative, has praised private sector leadership and engagement in this effort stating, “I am particularly enthusiastic about the leadership displayed by private sector organizations and their efforts to champion and resource this movement, bringing positive change to our community in the near term when it is needed most, with a lasting legacy for the future”.

Bid proponents are well aware of Hamilton’s long term enthusiasm for the Games and believe that the breadth of support across the public and private sectors and the innovative approaches this collaboration has yielded hold enormous promise for Ontario reclaiming its birthright as the international home of the Commonwealth Sporting movement.

For more information on our innovative plan to leverage the Games to build more peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities through the adoption of a Community Wellbeing Framework please visit our

Games’ movement partners at https://dialogdesign.ca/community-wellbeing-framework/ and https://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=9787.

More information, including the Hamilton 2030 Commonwealth Games Overview & Highlights, can be found on the bid website: hamilton2030.ca. The Commonwealth Games Federations’ compelling mission and values are available at: https://thecgf.com/about

Enquiries can be directed to:

Louis Frapporti
Bid Chair

louis.frapporti@gowlingwlg.com

Fred Eisenberger
Mayor, City of Hamilton

Fred.Eisenberger@hamilton.ca