Pan Am Games survival guide for July 9
Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons and NBA player Greivis Vásquez carry the torch. The GTA gets an offer to get out of town.
A synchronized swimming duo practices their routine, during a training session at the Pan Am Games in Toronto on Wednesday.
What you need to know on Thursday while the Pan Am Games are in town.
1. Road closures
Bremner Blvd. will be closed to vehicles from Navy Wharf to Simcoe St. from 3 p.m. to midnight as Pan Am organizers prepare for the Opening Ceremony Friday.
The John St. Bridge will also be closed from noon to midnight; the Rogers Centre stairs (east of Gate 2) will be barricaded from 3 p.m. to midnight.
The Aquatics Centre and Field House will be in use as of Thursday, so drivers can expect some heavier traffic on Morningside Ave. in Scarborough.
Also in Scarborough, stopping is now prohibited on Chartway Blvd. west of Conlins Rd., or on Bonspiel Dr., Tams Rd. and Schmirler Terrace.
2. Torch relay
Nearing the end of its 41-day cross-Canada journey, the Pan Am flame will start the day at Mount Dennis Public Library (1123 Weston Rd.) for a community celebration at 10:20 a.m. (carried by torchbearer Zhen Wang).
It will visit the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (in the hands of the Centre’s President and CEO, Catherine Zahn) and the West End YMCA (with torchbearer Russell Maye).
Michael “Pinball” Clemons, head coach of the Argonauts, will carry it into Christie Pits Park for a party in the afternoon. Then torchbearer Tanisha Martinez will bring it to Queen’s Park before NBA player Greivis Vásquez lights the community cauldron at Nathan Phillips Square to end the day around 7 p.m.
3. Events
The equestrian and synchronized swimming events kick off.
Individual dressage starts at 9 a.m., while duet and team technical synchronized swimmers will be in the pool at noon and 6 p.m., respectively.
Water polo matches continue throughout the day, with Canada’s women’s team taking on Puerto Rico at around noon and the men facing Venezuela around 6 p.m.
4. Already fed up? Visit …
London, ON?
That’s the advice London officials sent out on Twitter this week: “Need to get away from “you know what”!? Take the #HOV down to #LDNONT,” the town’s tourism authority wrote.
5. And a reminder
The LCBO is open extended hours in three downtown Toronto spots. At the old Maple Leaf Gardens site, the new hours are until July 26. At the Queens Quay flagship and at King St. and Spadina Ave., the new hours are permanent.
By: Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/09/pan-am-games-survival-guide-for-july-9.html