Now that Windsor city council has given the green light to host two more major sporting events, the city is looking to Essex County for financial and venue support.
Council approved moving forward with bids for four FINA Diving World Series events for $1 million and the Ontario Summer Games for $1.6 million. Now it's the county's turn to either buy in or take a pass.
“Clearly we'd like to see this as a regional event," says Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis.
That's because the Ontario Summer Games feature 22 different sporting events spread out over four days, requiring multiple venues.
The city is looking for the county to host about half of those, especially for the triathlon, sailing and canoeing and kayaking events. In return a 50/50 split of the total price tag.
“Should the county decide not to play a role, then the venues will be readjusted," says Francis.
But Essex County warden and Lakeshore mayor Tom Bain hopes that's not the case.
“I would like to see it hosted as a county event," says Bain.
Bain says county council contributed $300,000 toward the recent International Children's Games, but will need to collectively go over the numbers to see if an investment of nearly three times that amount is worthwhile.
“I think there's a long-term lasting benefit, there's a lot more to this than economic spin-off,” says Bain.
