Greater Sudbury will soon begin dusting off its sports infrastructure to host the 2025 Ontario 55+ Summer Games this August.

The announcement was made on October 31.

The province said in a news release it would provide $235,000 to support the city’s welcoming efforts. The games are expected to attract more than 1,000 participants who will compete in more than a dozen events over three days in August 2025.

Hosting the games is expected to generate more than $1.5 million in economic benefits for Greater Sudbury.

“We are thrilled to host the 2025 Ontario 55+ Games. This is an exciting opportunity to not only showcase our vibrant community, but also attract visitors from across the province,” declared Mayor Paul Lefebvre in a press release. to welcome athletes and their families to Greater Sudbury in August. »

The City of Greater Sudbury has declared last August that he had been asked to tender for the organization of the games, which the council unanimously accepted.

At the time, city Recreation Services Director Jeff Pafford said he was optimistic the city’s facilities could accommodate the games and that there was a volunteer base “well suited to be able to host games”.

When Greater Sudbury hosted the 2010 Ontario Summer Gamesthe city had to build some facilities, like beach volleyball courts and a BMX bike path. That wouldn’t be the case for the 55-and-older Summer Games, Pafford said, which would likely require only “minor capital upgrades” to host.

A successful August motion from Ward 4 Count. Pauline Fortin and Ward 5 County. Mike Parent asked staff to “report on capital upgrades and necessary funding resources,” in the event the city wins its bid, so that report is in preparation . Additional upgrades to meet gaming needs could make hosting more expensive.

The three-day Ontario 55+ Summer Games will see participants compete in sports such as cycling, tennis, swimming, tip walking, bowling, shuffleboard, pickleball, slow pitch, bowling, cards, pétanque, billiards, darts and golf.

Organizing the games is expected to cost $486,000, including a contingency fund of $45,000.

Costs would be funded by the Ontario Ministry of Sport Hospitality Grant ($235,000), the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Tourism Development Fund ($90,000), registration fees ($90 000), sponsorship ($20,000) and the Tourism Events Support Program ($20,000). The remaining $30,000 is expected to be funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor, for which grants will be submitted now that Sudbury has won the right to host the games.

The Ontario 55+ Summer Games event was formerly called “Activefest” and was first held in 1986 in Kitchener.

-with files from Tyler Clarke