The Vanderspek family from Toronto were surprised by Donovan Bailey and mascot Pachi ©CNW Group/Toronto 2015

Double Olympic gold medallist Donovan Bailey surprised a family in Ontario by hand delivering their tickets for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games on their doorstep as the countdown continues to the event getting underway on July 10.

The ambassador for the Games was joined by Toronto 2015’s official mascot Pachi to hand out the tickets to the Vanderspek family, while a troupe of drummers were also present as Canadian officials attempt to engage the public prior to the Games.

The family were among the first to purchase tickets for the Games, including successfully buying tickets for the Pan American Games Opening Ceremony, which is due to feature a performance from the creative partner of Toronto 2015, Cirque du Soleil.

Additionally, the family have tickets to watch gymnastics and athletics at Toronton 2015, with competition set to take place across the city from July 10 to 26 and will be followed by the Parapan American Games from August 7 to 15.

Bailey presented them with tickets to the Opening Ceremony, athletics and gymnastics
Donovail Bailey presented the Vanderspek family with tickets for the Opening Ceremony, athletics and gymnastics ©CNW Group/Toronto 2015

Bailey is one of Canada’s most distinguished athletes having claimed three world titles during his career, in addition to his double Olympic gold.

Baily, now 47, set a world record time of 9.84sec to claim gold in the men’s 100 metres  at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and was also a key member of the victorious Canadian men’s 4x100m relay team at the Games to claim his second Olympic title.

One of Bailey’s first major championships for Canada was the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana when he was 23.

Toronto 2015 are hoping that this year’s edition of the Games will provide the ideal opportunity for another young athlete in 20-year-old Andre De Grasse to showcase his potential.

De Grasse has been named in Canada’s athletics team for the Games having recently run 9.97 in Los Angeles to emerge as a medal contender at  Toronto 2015.



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