Correspondence: Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission - 55+ BC Games Proposed for Greater Victoria

Correspondence: Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission - 55+ BC Games Proposed for Greater Victoria

BRIEFING NOTE ON THE 55+ BC GAMES PROPOSED FOR GREATER VICTORIA

PURPOSE

The purpose of this briefing note is to make municipalities aware of an important sporting event that could come to Greater Victoria. The BC Senior Games Society has invited our community to bid on the 55+ BC Games (formally known as the BC Seniors Games) in 2020, 2021 or 2022. We can bid on any or all of these Games, however, only one will be awarded. The bid deadline is June 29, 2018.

BACKGROUND

The 55+ BC Games have never been held in the Capital Region. The BC Senior Games Society has indicated that Greater Victoria is in a favourable position to host the Games.

• 4,000 registered participants from across BC would visit Greater Victoria.
• The last economic study completed after the 2014 Games in Langley found that more than $3,100,000 was spent in the community.
• This bid is an opportunity to prove that Greater Victoria can go after larger events of this kind in a strategic and measured way.

No one municipality in Greater Victoria that has all of the required facilities to host these Games, therefore a single bid is proposed on behalf of the region.

CURRENT SITUATION

Tourism Victoria/Great Victoria Sport Tourism Commission (successor to SportHost) want to bid on the Games. Feedback from municipalities is being sought. The Hotel Association of Greater Victoria is also reviewing this opportunity.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

• Communities must choose a minimum of 20 sports for the athletes to compete in. Available venues in the region must be matched to the sports.
• The opening ceremonies are proposed for Royal Athletic Park or Topaz Park. Aquatics would be at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
• The host destination must provide $60,000 to stage the Games. Tourism Victoria would backstop that amount for its MRDT contributing municipalities of Victoria and Saanich. In the spirit of cooperation,

other municipalities hosting events would be asked to contribute modest amounts to help defray this cost.

A Host Society must be set up to execute the Games. Tourism Victoria/Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission would create the society. Tourism Victoria has a history of doing so with events such as Capital City Comic Con, Deuce Days and IMPACT.

NEXT STEPS

An initial meeting of stakeholders is taking place:

Friday, June 8 at 10:00 am in the PISE/94Forward boardroom at Saanich Commonwealth Place.

Letter of Support are required two days in advance of the bid deadline, which is: 12 noon, June 29, 2018