Legacy and Economic Spinoff
The legacy and economic spinoff created by the IAAF World Junior Championships will leave its mark on the community, province and region long after the last medal is awarded. This is a significant event for the region, and will create significant economic activity in the region and in Moncton specifically.
The legacy of the IAAF World Junior Championships will reach beyond just pure economics. The opportunity to watch their peers go for gold on the world stage will hopefully inspire a greater interest in athletics, and sports in general, among New Brunswick youth and our neighbouring provinces. The championships will also provide an opportunity to develop performance athletes, coaches and athletic clubs in Atlantic Canada who will be able to pass down their passion and knowledge to younger generations.
A heritage fund will be established to help exclusively with this kind of development in Moncton, New Brunswick and the Atlantic region. The fund, valued at $500,000, will be invested in a sub-account of the Athletics Canada Foundation and will be managed by local and regional stakeholders in the athletics community.
The most visible legacy of the Championships is sure to be the new state-of-the-art stadium on Université de Moncton’s campus. The stadium, built to the IAAF’s rigorous certification requirements, will be a fantastic new venue for future sporting and cultural events. The 10,000 seat stadium will be the perfect site for events like football games, soccer games and concerts. In addition, training sites being updated for the Championships in Dieppe and Shediac will benefit local athletes for years to come. Approximately $250,000 worth of equipment, purchased for the Championships, will also stay in the community and will be available to local athletes after the Championships are over.
Hosting the IAAF World Junior Championships will put the eyes of the world on Moncton. This is the first athletics event of this level to ever be held in Atlantic Canada, not to mention one of the highest profile international events ever hosted in the Atlantic Provinces. The high local, national and international media exposure that is sure to accompany this event will put Moncton in the spotlight and the city will continue to increase its reputation as a place where big things happen. The business, tourism, sport and cultural communities in Moncton will be highlighted. It is hoped that visitors who come to watch the Championships will take the time to explore the region and all it has to offer and leave with a lasting positive impression they will share when they return home.
The IAAF World Junior Championships also provide a unique opportunity to educate local youth about not only athletics, but the benefits of physical activity and healthy lifestyles in general. Moncton 2010 will be working with regional school districts to bring the excitement of the Championships to approximately 336 elementary, middle and high schools, both French and English, in the region. Moncton 2010 hopes to leave young students with not only a passion for sport, but also for multiculturalism as they take this opportunity to learn about people and cultures from all over the world.
Education will also come in the form of a youth development camp taking place during the Championships. The camp will give young New Brunswickan and Atlantic Canadian athletes the chance to not only improve their athletic ability, but also the opportunity to interact with athletes coming from the 170 participating countries. They will also witness a level of performance never before seen in our region.
The Championships will leave a legacy of expertise. The knowledge gained from hosting an international event of this size can, and will, be used in the planning and staging of future large scale events in the area. The volunteers, organizing committee members, local officials and all others involved in this event will gain valuable experience, and increase their own skills and knowledge in the process.
Finally, the Championships will leave a legacy of friendship and cooperation. Not only will the two major linguistic communities in the province be working together to make this event a success, but countless other sport, cultural, ethno-cultural and community organizations will be working with the Local Organizing Committee throughout the planning and during the Championships. Community spirit will play an integral part in making this the best World Junior Championships ever.
