Guelph takes a step back from 2021 Canada Games bid

The City of Guelph has taken a step back from the region's 2021 Canada Summer Games bid, butplans to support and contributeon a different level.

Guelph had originally been packaged with Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge as one of the four cities to potentially host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

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However, theRegional Sport Tourism Office's (RSTO) phase one investigation, which organized a technical review of the region's sport venues, showed that Guelph'swere not suitable for the 2021 Canada Game sports.

"None of the venues here in Guelph, or anything that we had on our capital planswas a fit," said Colleen Clack, deputy CAO of public services for the city.

Clack says the only facility that the city has capital money to build in the next few yearsis a community centre on the south end of the city. However, it won't be a competition-level facility appropriate for the 2021 Games.

"Based on that, it didn't make sense for the municipality to participate when we didn't have capital money set aside that we could contribute into the pot," she said.

This means, Guelph won't be following Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge into phase two of the bidding project.

Continue to support region's bid

According to Sherry Doiron, manager of sport tourismat RSTO, Guelph's decision to take a step back from the bid won't affect the region's bidding match against Ottawa, Sudbury and the Niagara region in any way.

"With an event this size, it's really important that any partner coming to the table understands the role that they feel comfortable to play and how that is going to work in their best benefit," Doiron said.

"It's important that nobody is overextended because if we do win and you can't match that level of enthusiasm, that's when we run into problems."

Guelph, whichisa municipal partner with RSTO, will continue to be a part of the region's bid to host the upcoming Canada Games and contribute"in whatever way possible."

"We will continue to stay in close conversation with our other municipal partners to see what role there is for Guelph as this moves ahead," Clack said.

Options include allowing the bid committee to lease a few facilities for the games or providing hotel and other venue accommodations.

Doiron wouldn't detail what Guelph'srole may be, but mentioned that within the next couple of weeksthat answer could become clearer.

An announcement naming the successful venue bid is expected in late March, 2017.