Pan Am Games Countdown Celebration Welcomes 100 New Citizens

(ATR) Ontario welcomed 100 new Canadian citizens to celebrate the beginning of the 100-day countdown until the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Toronto 2015, working with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, granted citizenship to 100 immigrants from 58 countries, something organizers say is a symbol of the ability of sport to unify those from different nations.

"We are proud to be the host city for the Games and we look forward to welcoming the athletes, coaches, families and visitors to our city. Joining them will be the 100 new Canadian citizens sworn in today as part of the 100 Days to Go ceremony. They represent the diversity found in our great city," Toronto Mayor John Tory said during the celebration.

After the ceremony, the festivities will move to Nathan Phillips Square, home to the Pan Am Games countdown clock. The clock was unveiled on July 10 - a year before the games - and features an interactive kiosk full of information for the Pan Am Games.

The first 100 people to take photos using the interactive kiosk willbe entered into a contest to win two free tickets to the games that run from July 10-26.

Sales of tickets began in March and have reached over 350,000 sold, but have been put on pause until April 16. Organizers say ticket sales are on par with projections and many gold medal events for sports like soccer, baseball and basketball have already sold out.

With the deadline fast approaching, Toronto’s athletes' village is already complete and ready for use. Organizers say that all other facilitiesand venues are nearly finished and will be completed by the beginning of the games in July.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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