The biennial Ontario 55+ Summer Games is coming to Peterborough from August 11 to 13, 2020.
The Ontario government selected the City of Peterborough to host the 2020 games, with support from the County of Peterborough, Fleming College, Trent University, and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development. All five are members of the organizing committee for the games.
The event is expected to draw as many as 1,400 participants from across the province, and will feature 19 events including cycling, lawn bowling, golf, pickleball, slo-pitch, swimming, and tennis as well as bid euchre, contract bridge, and cribbage.
“Historically, the Ontario 55+ Summer Games generate about $2 million in positive economic impact for the host community,” says Peterborough Mayor Dianne Therrien. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the county, Fleming College, Trent University, and our regional economic development agency to bring this all together.”
The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is providing $210,000 in funding to support the event, with the City of Peterborough contributing $135,000 and another $309,000 to be raised through fundraising, sponsorship, and fees.
The games will take place at venues across the city and county of Peterborough. A website for the games will be launched by this summer, along with a call for volunteers.
Games Ontario, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, is responsible for the delivery of the Ontario Summer Games for youth, the Ontario Winter Games for youth, the Ontario 55+ Summer Games, the Ontario 55+ Winter Games, and the Ontario Parasport Games.
The City of Peterborough first confirmed in August 2018 that it has been selected to host the 2020 Ontario 55+ Summer Games. The city also bid for the 2020 Ontario Summer Games for youth, but the City of London was again selected to host those games in 2020 (London also hosted them in 2018).
The 2019 Ontario 55+ Winter Games are being hosted in March in Huntsville, and the 2020 Ontario Winter Games for youth are being hosted in Orillia. The 2019 Ontario Parasport Games were held in Durham Region earlier this month.
