Canadian Olympic Committee VP wants Victoria to bid on 2020 Invictus Games
Says city has 'trifecta' of strong sport, volunteer and military communities
The vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Committee says Victoria would be a great fit to host the Invictus Games in 2020 and wants the city to make a push for them.
The Invictus Games are a multi-sport event that aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery. Competing athletes are all members of armed forces from around the world who have been wounded in the line of duty.
"Sport is wonderful, let's make no mistake about it … using it as a vehicle for something else, it somehow becomes bigger than just sport," Peter Lawless told All Points West host Robyn Burns.
"You're taking somebody who might be having PTSD or any number or problems, literally living in their basement in the dark using sport as a way of shining a light on them and on the issue and having them reconnect with their comrades and the community."
The 2017 Games will be held in Toronto this summer, but Lawless says Victoria is well-positioned to make a 2020 bid.
He says the facilities are "the best" in the country if not the newest and there are strong sport, volunteer and military communities in the city.
"That's a bit of the trifecta for holding a games like Invictus."
Lawless says Victoria can wait until October to send a letter of intent for the games, which will allow the city to see how the Toronto games went, especially from an economics standpoint.
"We've gotta put together a meaningful package that talks about 'why,'" he said. "We've gotta have that vision and we've gotta shop that around the community.
"If the community wants this, I think we'll have it. If the community doesn't want it, we won't have it."
The 2018 Invictus Games have been awarded to Sydney, Australia.
With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West
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