Article content

Hundreds of children played soccer and basketball and bounced on trampolines in Nathan Phillips Square Friday morning as officials launched the one-year countdown to the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Under a sweltering sun, people streamed into the square from all sides to hear politicians including Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford speak about the games. The party also included soccer pitches and basketball courts set up for disabled children in the square.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A mix of cheers and boos as Rob Ford and other politicians mark one year until Toronto hosts Pan-Am games Back to video

“I thought it was a nice day to take out the kids and have some fun,” said Toronto resident Arthur Clarkeson, who had taken the morning off work to bring his son, 5, and daughter, 7, to the square. “It looked like there was a lot of things here for the kids.”

Joined by a coterie of stilt-walkers and jugglers, Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled the Cisco One-Year Pan Am Countdown Clock , which will remain in the square for a year.