The City of Estevan has thrown its full support behind the bid for the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
Council passed two resolutions at the Sept. 9 meeting, both of which were important steps in Estevan's quest to land the Games for the first time since 1980.
In one resolution, the City pledged its support of the Games bid, guaranteed to back any deficit and will also commit its facilities for the Games.
The second resolution is to support one-third of the costs of the new track and field facilities, which comes to $336,000.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said the City's contribution will be paid out over a five-year term. As for covering any possible deficit, Ludwig does not expect that to be an issue.
"I believe, if you look at the stats, there was only one that didn't make money so we are very confident with the committee and people that we have in place that we will be successful," Ludwig said."
Brian Smith and Brian Senchuk, who are the co-chairs of Estevan's Games bid, both appeared before council to ask for the resolutions and also to provide an update on their progress.
Senchuk said the local group is a highly motivated group that has banded together and is proud of the bid they will be submitting to the selection committee later this year. Senchuk added that although the City would have to cover any losses, he is also confident the Games will be a major success.
"We'd like to think that our team is very well-recognized in the community, very responsible," Senchuk said. "Though there is that underlying notion that it could run into a deficit, we are confident that our team is not going to allow that to happen. It's a formality as far as we're concerned but I guess there are no guarantees. I think we are going to make sure that there is a number of procedures and guidelines (in place) to make sure that we are successful."
Smith took the members of council through an information package on their bid and other pertinent matters.
He said the deadline to submit the bid for the Games is Oct. 1 and they expect to have it to the selection committee by Sept. 27. Once all of the submissions are in, the selection group will create a shortlist of four and will then conduct site visits, likely in mid-October.
"Up to 10 representatives from the site selection committee will come to Estevan and will basically spend a day. They will want to meet city council, and the mayor in particular, and some of the major stakeholders like the school board and some of the business community.
"Of course they will want to tour all of the venues and meet all of the board members that are on the committee. It will be a packed day. We should hear sometime in November who the committee is going to be giving the 2016 Games."
Smith said one of the two big tenets of the Games is to provide what he described as a mini-Olympics atmosphere for the athletes. The other is to leave a major legacy in the host community in areas such as facilities.
"(The legacy) could be in facilities, new sports being brought to the community, trained officials, better trained coaches and lots of volunteers," he said. "Of course there is an economic benefit to the city as well. About 95 per cent of the Games hosted thus far have shown a surplus. We'd like to keep it that way."
Smith said the committee is also working on the operating budget and he expects it will be over $1 million. They will also have a hefty capital budget, most of which will go towards the new track and field facilities, which will be located at the Estevan Comprehensive School.
In late August, the Cornerstone School Division agreed to pay one-third of the cost. With the City's commitment that leaves one-third remaining, much of which will be generated through fundraising ventures. It's expected some funds will be needed for two more tennis courts to meet the Games requirement of four.
As for their competition, Smith said Swift Current, Melville, Melfort, North Battleford and Nipawin are in the running and he expects that Swift Current will pose the stiffest competition.
"We are working really hard to find ways of standing out above them."
It will take an estimated 1,700 volunteers to run the games and Smith noted the committee is off to a good start with a number of people already stepping up to take on big roles within their group.
Smith said the committee was hoping to have the first draft of the bid completed by Monday to allow enough time for review. They hope to have the final document into the printers by this coming Monday and will then send it forward.
