Pan Am Games

2015 Pan Am, Parapan Am Games feature 7 new sports

The 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am games in Toronto will mark the debut of seven sports and the return of two others.

Men's softball and 7-a-side football will return as well

The 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am games in Toronto will mark the debut of seven sports, with two sports also set to return after a hiatus.

Here are the sports that fans can look forward to seeing for the first time, or the first time in a while:

Women's baseball and men's softball

Baseball will now feature both men's and women's teams. Canada's men's team will look to defend their first-place finish in 2011, while Ashley Stephenson has put off retirement from the women's team for a shot at gold.

On the softball diamond, men's play returns to the games for the first time since 2003.

Golf

In addition to returning to the Olympics in 2016, golf will be featured in the Pan Am Games. The competition will have both men's and women's play, with individual and team medals up for grabs.

Women's rugby sevens

The condensed version of 15-a-side rugby union, rugby sevens at the Pan Am Games will now feature a women's bracket.


Canada's men's team won the sport's first Pan Am gold in 2011. Both men's and women's sevens will be a part of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Canoe/Kayak slalom and women's sprint

Is it possible to combine downhill skiing, boats, rapids and water parks? Canoe/kayak slalom answers that question with a resounding yes.


The Olympic sport will make its debut in Pan Am competition this year alongside women's sprint events.

Parapan Am sports

In August's Parapan Am games, men's seven-a-side football will return to competition for the first time since 2007. It will be featured in addition to the five-a-side version game.

As well, women's sitting volleyball will join their male counterparts at the Games.

Finally, mixed wheelchair rugby will be featured for the first time. Canada won silver at the 2012 London Paralympics and a showdown with two-time Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. team is likely.