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Spreading The Pan Am And Para Pan Am Legacy Projects Across Ontario

By OSA News, 09/01/15, 7:00PM EDT

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OSA Staff have been spreading some post Pan Am Games cheer this week, with the distribution of equipment from the highly successful Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games.

Paul Burns, Coordinator of Membership Services (West), was in Mississauga delivering balls, pinnies, pumps and cones to the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO).

ASWCO will be using their legacy equipment to grow new soccer programs across Northern Ontario through a network of Aboriginal Sport Activators.

Meanwhile, Matt Greenwood, Manager of Membership Services, visited with Ontario Blind Sport Association (OBSA) to present 40 specialist balls for blind soccer as well as guide bibs. These balls will make their way to Sudbury, Ottawa and London where the OSA have partnered with OBSA this summer as part of their 'Come and Try' days.

Finally, Gabriel Assis, Senior Coordinator Membership Services, who officiated in the Pan Am Games and made the pledge on behalf of all Match Officials at the Para Pan Am Games Opening Ceremony, presented North Toronto Soccer Club (NTSC) Technical Director John Hyland with balls to help further grow their special needs program. NTSC provided an excellent group of ball girls who worked long shifts across both the 5's and 7's soccer events.

Further equipment will be delivered to clubs across Ontario offering inclusive programs for athletes with special needs in the coming week.

Substantial legacy equipment in the form of goals from the Para Pan Am Games has been relocated at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan in readiness for the ongoing CP 7's training camps, run by Canada Soccer and overseen by Head Coach Drew Ferguson. The blind soccer 5's goals and kick boards have been housed at the Abilities Centre in Whitby and will be used to launch a program specific to blind soccer serving Ontario and beyond.