Toronto_2015August 28 - An evaluation committee will pay a visit to Toronto next week as part of the process to select a host city for the 2015 Pan American Games.

The Pan American Sports Organization's (PASO) Evaluation Commission will be in the Ontario capital for two days, starting on Sunday, visiting proposed venues and facilities for the 2015 Games.

The Commission will assess elements of Toronto's bid and report its findings to PASO, the organisation in charge of the Games and whose member nations vote to award hosting rights.

Former Ontario Premier David Peterson, now the chairman of Toronto's 2015 bid committee, welcomes the scrutiny.

He said: "We're thrilled to welcome the Evaluation Commission and are ready to make our case as the ideal city to host the 2015 Pan American Games.

"We've worked very hard to put together an excellent bid.

"We now have the chance to show PASO first-hand the world-class venues, infrastructure, attractions and exciting new facilities that we can deliver."

Toronto's rivals in the battle to host the Games are Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia.

The final bid presentation and vote is scheduled to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, in November.

The Pan Am Games is a major international multi-sport event, held every four years for athletes from 42 countries.

Rio de Janeiro staged the last Pan Am Games in July 2007 and the next edition will take place in Guadalajara in October 2011.