Ian Millar has been appointed as a senior equestrian advisor on the sport organizing committee for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games in Caledon.
Millar, a nine-time Pan Am medallist and 2008 Olympic silver medallist, is the most high-profile volunteer to date to join the committee at the Caledon Equestrian Park, which is undergoing a major $11.7-million revamp to host equestrian events for the Games.
The committee in Caledon is one of more than 60 that will help the Toronto 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) host the largest multi-sport Games ever held in Canada. Sport experts like Millar will help plan sport test events, liase with provincial and national sport federations and ensure the Games are a catalyst for long-term sport legacies.
“I am honoured to have been asked to join the committee,” commented Millar. “I’ve experienced the growth of the park over the years; I am delighted to be in a position to offer guidance as to future development. I have attended multiple Pan Am Games and I believe that the Caledon Equestrian Park will rate amongst the top Equestrian facilities.
“Moreover, I am extremely excited about the legacy that the Pan American Games facility will leave our sport.”
A resident of Perth, ON Millar has been a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) since 1971 having competed in the Olympic Games since Munich in 1972, only ever having missed only the Western boycotted Moscow Games in 1980. Millar has contested in every Pan Am Games since 1979. No one in the history of the modern Olympic Games has competed in as many Games as Millar, who has his sights set on 2015 Pan American Games (at Caledon) and Rio 2016.
“As an equestrian who has represented Canada at the Pan American Games many times and won more medals there than any other Canadian equestrian athlete, I cannot think of anyone better qualified to be the athlete representative for equestrian. We are extremely fortunate that Ian has volunteered to assume this role,” states Michael Gallagher, President of Equine Canada.
For the Games, TO2015 is constructing a main stadium building that has heat and air conditioning, permanent spectator seating, a new Grand Prix ring that meets International Equine Federation (FEI) standards, warm-up rings and training areas, top-of-the-line footing in the rings, an indoor competition and warm-up riding arena for winter use, improved stabling, upgraded site services and other equestrian-related amenities at Caledon Equestrian Park.
The construction is broken into two phases. Last May, the site and service works and the footing installation in three of the five rings were completed. The second phase starts this fall, with construction slated to finish in late spring 2014.
“Having Ian join us brings [us the expertise of] one of the most highly respected athletes worldwide,” said Craig Collins, chair of the sport organizing committee and a managing partner of Equestrian Management Group (EMG), which operates Caledon Equestrian Park.
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