This story has been updated with new information since the original posting.
Victoria could once again be hosting the North American Indigenous Games, the B次元官网网址 has learned.
Chief Ron Sam of the Songhees Nation said heB次元官网网址檚 in the process of forming a committee to discuss a bid application for Victoria to host the Games in 2020. The committee will be meeting next week, where there will potentially be representatives from the City of Victoria, and the provincial and federal governments. The office of Murray Rankin, federal member of parliament for Victoria, has confirmed they are sending a representative to the Songhees Wellness Centre on Monday.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 slowly coming together right now,B次元官网网址� Sam said. B次元官网网址淭he city is big enough. We have hotels, we have sport venues, we have universities for lodging athletes B次元官网网址eB次元官网网址檙e just crossing our fingers.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Marianne Alto will also be attending the meeting and said she is looking forward to hearing more about the bid and what hosting the Games could look like.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a really exciting opportunity,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen [the Games have] appeared in other communities, itB次元官网网址檚 had very beneficial effects. Not just for Indigenous communities involved, but for the surrounding communities as well.B次元官网网址�
Mayor Lisa Helps said if the Songhees Nation is interested, she would consider supporting the bid.
B次元官网网址淲e want to support the First Nations here, and if this is something they want to take leadership on, I would be happy to learn more and hear about the opportunity,B次元官网网址� she said.
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The 2020 Games were initially awarded to Winnipeg, but Sam said that bid has fallen through, opening the door to other bidders. Victoria hosted the Games in 1997.
The North American Indigenous Games in Toronto and Hamilton this year saw 5,000 athletes compete in 14 sports. Roughly 2,000 volunteers were involved in staging the Games, which attracted thousands of visitors.
