Guadalajara, Mexico, Saturday, October 29, 2011
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Good evening and congratulations on your success thus far at the 2011 Pan American and Parapan American Games!
Events such as this bring together not only Canadian competitors and other world-class athletes, but also Canadians across the country. We are cheering you on as you amass medal after medal. Each victory is a proud moment for Canada.
These Games are important for the development of Canadian athletes, as they provide valuable training and competition experience. Our common pursuit of sports excellence is what drives us and what has led us to 28 gold medals, 115 medals overall.
Through it all, we’ve had scores of individuals behind the scenes supporting our Pan Am athletes.
We wouldn’t have achieved success without the dedicated individuals of the 2011 Organizing Committee, as well as the thousands of volunteers who have worked tirelessly with the committee and during these Games. They have taken care of our athletes, and they have ensured that the Games run smoothly and that visitors to Guadalajara enjoy every minute of their experience.
This celebration is also an opportunity for us to look forward to the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, hosted by Toronto.
I know that all levels of government, along with the Toronto 2015 Organizing Committee and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, will work together to ensure the successful staging of the Games.
This event will benefit not only the city, but also the surrounding region, the Province of Ontario and Canada as a whole. I look forward to 2015, when we can once again welcome the world to Canada.
Some of you may know that my wife and our family are sports enthusiasts. We take every opportunity to exercise, skate, ski, run or ride our bikes, because we know that staying active is vital.
You know better than most that physical activity plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of Canadians. That is why you must be conscious of the fact that in addition to bringing Canadians together, athletes also inspire others to participate in sports. You set the culture.
You are role models for our young people, and I hope that you take every opportunity to motivate people to stay active.
On behalf of the entire country, I congratulate you on your success, and I wish you luck in the remainder of this competition.
I will see you in Toronto in 2015!
Thank you.
