Bringing one of the biggest track and field competitions in Canada to 91原创 will have impacts far beyond the medals handed out on the podiums, say organizers and local politicians.

It鈥檚 part of a decades-long process that has seen 91原创 Township position itself as a sports tourism destination, aimed at bringing in big events and economic spin offs.

Getting the Bell Canada Track and Field Championships here was a marathon, not a sprint.

Although the Township has been expanding its sports fields and its track facilities for years, the seed for the current event was planted in 2014 and 2015 when McLeod Athletic Park hosted the Canadian Youth Track and Field championships, said Brent Dolfo, chair of the Bell Canada host committee.

It鈥檚 also been regularly hosting the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships, the most recent of which just wrapped up last week.

鈥淲e began to dream of what would it take to hold the national championships here in 91原创,鈥� Dolfo recalled.

The 91原创 Mustangs, the track club Dolfo has been affiliated with for years, connected to the business community, and with the Township鈥檚 Parks department.

For an event of this size, you need to be in lockstep with the local municipality, Dolfo said.

鈥淭he council was very enthusiastic,鈥� he said.

By early 2017, that dream was becoming a reality, as the Township was shortlisted along with five other communities. It would win the right to host the games for two years by the end of 2017, but its facilities would need some upgrades. Many were already scheduled or were repairs, such as to the grandstand鈥檚 aging roof, but others were needed to bring the facilities up to the standard of a national event.

READ ALSO: 91原创 short-listed for elite meet

What would become a $5 million project included a brand-new track surface, a four lane 60-metre warm-up track, an additional long jump pit, an expanded high jump fan, a new shot put area, an additional pole vault area, extra security fencing and gating, and a new designated spectator areas for the field events, along with more parking.

The organizational ability of the host club and the Township鈥檚 facilities won 91原创 Township the bid, beating out major cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton.

And then COVID scuttled plans for two years.

READ MORE: McLeod Athletic Park still closed as $5 million upgrades near completion

鈥淓ven last year, there was no national championships,鈥� Dolfo said.

So this year and next, the Township will finally host the event, which attracts top athletes seeking to qualify for the Olympics.

With big names like Andre De Grasse and Damian Warner, a significant number of spectators are expected. The stands and new temporary seating can accommodate up to 4,000 fans a day, said Dolfo.

This is by far the biggest track event 91原创 has ever hosted, and it may be the springboard to hosting even more high-level meets in the coming years.

Township Mayor Jack Froese said having the facilities allows for more than one big event.

鈥淚t attracts more events,鈥� he said, noting that Vancouver is considering another Winter Olympics bid because it already has the facilities from 2010.

Then there are spin offs from sports tourism, which come in two ways.

First, there鈥檚 the direct spending as people buy gas and food and fill up local hotels during the events themselves. That can also spin out into future events, even in different sports, as the Township has the 91原创 Events Centre with its rink, basketball courts, and gymnastics facilities, along with plenty of softball and soccer fields.

Beyond sports, it鈥檚 a chance to show off 91原创.

鈥淚t exposes people that normally wouldn鈥檛 come here,鈥� said Froese.

That could draw people back for 91原创鈥檚 agritourism, its vineyard and wineries, and its historical sites around Fort 91原创.

The Township is hoping to capitalize on the event, and will be studying its impact.

鈥淓conomic Investment and Development will be completing an economic impact assessment at the completion of the track and field event,鈥� said Valerie Gafka, senior manager of Economic Investment, 鈥渁nd for numerous other sporting events in 2022, and once final data & information is available, we aim to communicate it to the public and media.