The New York Times has written an article about how Toronto is indifferent to the Pan Am Games. It seems entirely true and comes with a series of reasons. Most people here know all this intuitively. Where are the team sports Toronto can relate to? Who are the stars? Where is the competition to drive our interest? What do we have to look forward to by way of television events? What should compel us to spend our carefully-managed disposable income? Civic pride? That’s a hell of a long shot. Is any of this the media’s fault? Sadly, it must be said the games lack focus and compelling sports interest. The Times makes the case more directly than anyone has done that this is at least partly (or maybe a lot) a political effort to get the Olympics to Toronto. Unfortunately, for busy people who have lots things to do — work, play, work, play (it’s a great City) — the political and media drumbeat of how excited we should be has become a bit of a harangue. New York Times
