The Rotary Bowl's 100 metre sprint lane and 400 metre oval were both resurfaced last year to meet International Association of Athletics Federations standards. (Ian Holmes/NanamoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

high profile event

Nanaimo has eyes on Canadian Track & Field Championships

Jan 20, 2022 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Some of the country’s top athletes could be in the Harbour City in pursuit of their Olympic dreams.

A required $100,000 commitment to host the 2024 Canadian Track & Field Championships lept a hurdle during a Wednesday, Jan. 19 Finance and Audit Committee meeting.

Eight councillors in attendance all voted in favour of the expenditure to back a bidding application, which must still be officially endorsed at a future council meeting.

Allen Johnston of the Nanaimo Track and Field Club said resurfacing the entire Rotary Bowl track last year allowed bidding for the nationally televised event to proceed.

“If you look at what has happened over the past year with the City supporting the upgrading of the track and field facility, this one right now is ready to host any international competition,”Johnston said at the virtually conducted meeting.

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The high-stakes Canadian Track & Field Championships serves as a trial to select members of the national track and field teams for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France.

Johnston said the Nanaimo area stands to benefit in multiple ways, including a significant economic jolt with more than 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials potentially in Nanaimo.

“If we host this you can be assured that the hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, restaurants and pubs are going to be full. The downtown area will be bustling.”

The City estimates hosting the event would put up to $15 million into the local economy.

Financial support will be sought to offset the $100,000 from the City, however the bid deadline requires the funding prior to bid submission, a City staff report noted.

Nanaimo has hosted numerous substantial track and field events over the years at Rotary Bowl, including multiple BC Summer Games.

Proposals to host the 2024 national track and field event must be submitted to Athletics Canada by March 31, 2022.

The event takes place from June 25-30, 2024.

Langley, B.C. is scheduled to host the event in 2022 and 2023.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes