Behind the scenes at the Ontario Summer Games

This summer, the University of Waterloo will quietly transform into the heart of one of the province’s largest multi-sport events. As more than 1,600 athletes, coaches and officials arrive at the University for the Ontario Summer Games between July 30 and August 2, residence buildings, dining halls and athletic facilities across our campus will take on a new rhythm.

Behind the scenes, the transformation is the result of months of coordination across various units at the University. The timing offers the perfect opportunity for the Games to leverage campus capacity, enabling teams across campus to work together in a uniquely integrated operation.

From hosting several competitions and coordinating transportation to being a primary hub for housing, feeding and moving participants throughout the Games, Waterloo researchers, students and staff are playing a major role in this year’s event.

Supporting athletes off the field

For Waterloo Athletics and Recreation, the event builds on years of experience hosting major competitions, but at a different scale. “We will be housing and feeding up to 1,500 individuals in residence on campus during the games,” says Ari Grossman, Associate Director of Business Operations at Waterloo Athletics. “Athletics and Recreation will be providing venues for hosting basketball and rugby on campus as well as supporting recreation opportunities for participants when on campus.”

While Waterloo Athletics provides the stage, Food Services powers the performance. During the Games, athletes, their coaches and support staff will rely on Waterloo’s dining operations for consistent, high-quality meals designed to meet the demands of competition. Menus were built to support athletic performance, balancing protein, carbohydrates, fibre and hydration, while accommodating a wide range of dietary needs.

Keeping people moving

With competition venues spread across the region, transportation is a key element requiring extensive planning to ensure athletes and their support teams are moved safely and efficiently.

Waterloo students from the Faculty of Environment’s School of Planning are supporting these complex logistics by working with organizers to plan and coordinate transportation services. This includes calculating travel times between varied locations, establishing the number of buses required, and setting optimal arrival and departure times across the event schedule.

“Each day and each sport have a unique set of requirements,” explains Stephanie Fritz, a master’s student in Planning who is supporting the effort. “Some sports have athletes arrive on site and stay all day; others have athletes travelling between venues for their games throughout the day.”

With a strict event schedule, this means that pick-ups and drop-offs must be well organized to get people to the varied venues on time. It must also factor in contingencies for a variety of scenarios, like a bus unexpectedly breaking down, to ensure operations run without interruption.

In addition to housing, feeding and transportation, countless volunteers are involved in other aspects of the Games, from delivering athletic therapy services to coordinating equipment and supporting the logistics of the opening ceremonies. The institution’s collective efforts reflect the expertise, collaboration and spirit found across campus, helping deliver a positive and memorable experience for athletes, coaches and visitors.