City scores new Pan Am facilities and a psychological shot in the arm

The 2015 Pan Am Games are coming to Ontario and bringing $170 million worth of sports facilities to Hamilton and Burlington.

The Golden Horseshoe bid handily beat its two competitors yesterday, winning 33 of a possible 52 votes. Lima, Peru, received 11 votes and Bogota, Colombia, garnered seven, while one ballot was spoiled.

The $1.4-billion bid, which involves 17 municipalities in southern Ontario, emerged as the frontrunner during the lead-up to yesterday's vote in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"Our commitment, our pledge, our undertaking, our promise is to provide you with the best Pan Am Games ever," said Premier Dalton McGuinty, who travelled to Mexico to help make the pitch.