[Kitchissippi]

The time is ripe for the Commonwealth Games (http://www.commonwealthgames.com/) to return to Canada in 2018. The last time they were here was in 1994 in Victoria. Halifax had the federal government's blessing for the 2014 games but they bowed out before the selection and it went to Glasgow, Scotland. The games have usually come to Canada every 16 years, with the exception of a 24-year period between Vancouver 1954 and Edmonton 1978, and if Canada does not get it in 2018, it will mark the longest interval in our hosting of the games.

Selection for the 2018 venue happens in 2011. Rumour has it that Toronto will probably go for it, after having lost out on so many bids lately.

I think Ottawa would be perfect for it, though. It *would* be nice if we went for a double header Expo2017/2018CG to celebrate the 150th year of Confederation, and get kick-ass infrastructure (transit system, stadium, etc) as a legacy.

[Aylmer]

That would be SOOOOOO cool!

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

That would be pretty cool, but I have no real faith in council or the Mayor to put forward a serious proposal...

[FFX-ME]

Ya seriously, screw the expo 2017 go for the commenwealth games, no one cares about expos anyway. We NEED a stadium and better infrastructure

[Kitchissippi]

That would be pretty cool, but I have no real faith in council or the Mayor to put forward a serious proposal...

While it needs the blessing of council that reflects the desire and willingness of the city to host the games, a bid is usually drawn up by an independent bidding committee. All we need is a good group of credible and influential people to push for it.

In that CGF website, you can actually download the bidding documents from recent competitions. The one from Glasgow is quite impressive (which is probably why Halifax bowed out before the selection). The bids by Hamilton and Delhi for the 2014 games are also there for inspection and it's interesting to compare their approaches.

Toronto will probably recycle their Olympic bid for the CG if they're not tired of failed bids by now. They were hoping for 2016 but since Vancouver got 2010, it will be a long while more until Canada/North America gets considered for the Olympics, especially if Chicago gets 2016.