Ottawa – Athletics Canada announced today that three Canadian communities have submitted a letter of intent to move forward in the domestic bid process to host the 2017 IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Youth Championships in Athletics. The successful domestic bid candidate will move onto the international bid phase.

Potential host communities – IAAF World Youth Championships

• Montreal, led by Montreal Tourism, and the City of Montreal
• Ottawa, led by Ottawa Tourism, the City of Ottawa, and the Ottawa Lions
• Toronto, led by Athletics Ontario and Toronto Sports Council

Potential host communities have until October 9, 2013 to submit their completed bid application to Athletics Canada. Site visits to each bid community will be held before October 31, 2013 by a representative of Athletics Canada’s bid evaluation committee. Bid communities will present to Athletics Canada’s evaluation committee on December 4, 2013, the following day Athletics Canada will formerly name the Canadian bid city which will move into the IAAF’s international bid process.

• 2017 World Youth Championships fact sheet

The IAAF is expected to open the international bid process in early 2014 and is expected to select the host city for the 2017 World Youth Championships by the end of the same year (2014).