2005 World Aquatics Championships bids
Encyclopedia
Montreal
became the first city in North America
to hold the FINA World Aquatics Championships. (2005 World Aquatics Championships
)
of organizing-committee head Yvon Desrochers) when the city was unable to raise sufficient funding, with other cities indicating their willingness to take the games on. However, following promises of funding from various levels of government, Montreal re-bid for the games and they were re-awarded to the city.
The championships were the first major international sporting competition hosted solely by Montreal since the 1976 Summer Olympics
, a gap of nearly 30 years. The bid for the event was started by former Montreal mayor Pierre Bourque
, who was a critic of the way the administration of Gerald Tremblay
handled the event, and warned about massive losses which would be carried by Montreal taxpayers.
The games were awarded to Montreal in part as an experiment to see if it is possible to hold the championships in North America. The lack of exposure for these sports in North America resulted in very low sponsorship rates. The organizing committee could not meet basic levels of commercial sponsorship in the year before 2005, resulting in lack of government funding that depended on commercial sponsorship levels. In the end, although basic planning had been completed, and some construction was underway, FINA determined that the organizing committee was unable to meet the commitment to host the games.
made a bold move and guaranteed that any loss coming from the event would be covered by the city of Montreal.
, Montreal's public transit commission, allowed competitors to take public transit for free. This allowed competitors to enjoy the lively city of festivals. The recommended way to reach the event site was by Montreal Metro
. Coincident with the championships were the Montreal Fireworks Festival (visible from the event site), Just for Laughs
comedy festival, and Fantasia Festival
of genre film.
The event featured new outdoor diving and long-course (50m) swimming pools, to the delight of many, instead of indoor pools, on Saint Helen's Island
. The open water swimming events took place in the Olympic rowing basin, legacy of Montreal's 1976 Summer Olympics
, on the neighbouring Île Notre-Dame
. Both islands are part of Parc Jean Drapeau.
The opening ceremony was created by the Cirque du Soleil
, whose home base is Montreal, and was a water show.
In the end, a total of 160,000 spectators attended, short of the 200,000 projected to break even on the event. This resulted in a $4,000,000 loss, about $1.10 per resident of Montreal.
, to take place 40 years after the last one. The next major games event in Montreal will be the 2006 World Outgames
, the first World Outgames, which also has controversy around it, with the revocation of the awarding of the 2006 World Gay Games from Montreal.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
became the first city in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to hold the FINA World Aquatics Championships. (2005 World Aquatics Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
)
First Awarding Winner: Montreal
The venue for the games was itself controversial. The games were awarded initially to Montreal, and then taken away again in February 2005 (leading to the suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
of organizing-committee head Yvon Desrochers) when the city was unable to raise sufficient funding, with other cities indicating their willingness to take the games on. However, following promises of funding from various levels of government, Montreal re-bid for the games and they were re-awarded to the city.
The championships were the first major international sporting competition hosted solely by Montreal since the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, a gap of nearly 30 years. The bid for the event was started by former Montreal mayor Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque, CQ is a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal from 1994 to 2001.-Background:...
, who was a critic of the way the administration of Gerald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
handled the event, and warned about massive losses which would be carried by Montreal taxpayers.
The games were awarded to Montreal in part as an experiment to see if it is possible to hold the championships in North America. The lack of exposure for these sports in North America resulted in very low sponsorship rates. The organizing committee could not meet basic levels of commercial sponsorship in the year before 2005, resulting in lack of government funding that depended on commercial sponsorship levels. In the end, although basic planning had been completed, and some construction was underway, FINA determined that the organizing committee was unable to meet the commitment to host the games.
Revocation of Award
FINA revoked the award, and set about on a second round of bidding. Many candidate cities lined up to have a chance at hosting the championships, while Montreal campaigned vigorously to keep the games. All seemed lost when statements by FINA officials seemed to indicate that Montreal would be excluded. Montreal mayor Gerald TremblayGérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
made a bold move and guaranteed that any loss coming from the event would be covered by the city of Montreal.
Second Awarding Winner: Montreal
When the second vote and awarding took place, Montreal's planning, and the commitment of the city were enough to win the second bid. The organizing committee was revamped with Norman Legault as director, and construction ramped up rapidly to finish the venues.Event Logistics
Sponsorship by the STMSTM
STM, an abbreviation, may refer to:In technology:*Scanning tunneling microscope, a non-optical microscope*Signature tagged mutagenesis, a genetic technique to create random mutants...
, Montreal's public transit commission, allowed competitors to take public transit for free. This allowed competitors to enjoy the lively city of festivals. The recommended way to reach the event site was by Montreal Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
. Coincident with the championships were the Montreal Fireworks Festival (visible from the event site), Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
comedy festival, and Fantasia Festival
Fantasia Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996...
of genre film.
The event featured new outdoor diving and long-course (50m) swimming pools, to the delight of many, instead of indoor pools, on Saint Helen's Island
Saint Helen's Island
Saint Helen's Island is an island in the Saint Lawrence River, in the territory of the city of Montreal. It is situated immediately southeast of the Island of Montreal, in the extreme southwest of Quebec. It forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
. The open water swimming events took place in the Olympic rowing basin, legacy of Montreal's 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, on the neighbouring Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island built in 10 months from 15 million tons of rock excavated for the Montreal Metro in 1965. It was created for Expo 67 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The island is part of the city of Montreal and forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
. Both islands are part of Parc Jean Drapeau.
The opening ceremony was created by the Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
, whose home base is Montreal, and was a water show.
In the end, a total of 160,000 spectators attended, short of the 200,000 projected to break even on the event. This resulted in a $4,000,000 loss, about $1.10 per resident of Montreal.
Post-Event
The well-planned-and-executed event has made the Montreal civic administration plan for future world-class games. Anticipation, from comments by the mayor, are that Montreal will bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...
, to take place 40 years after the last one. The next major games event in Montreal will be the 2006 World Outgames
2006 World Outgames
The 1st World Outgames took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 26, 2006 to August 5, 2006. The international conference was held from July 26 to the 29. The sporting events were held from July 29 to August 5.-History:...
, the first World Outgames, which also has controversy around it, with the revocation of the awarding of the 2006 World Gay Games from Montreal.