Mr. Speaker, from June 13 through June 19 Hamilton was the proud host of the 23rd International Children's Games.
Held for the first time outside of Europe, children from 26 countries experienced friendly competition in the spirit of peace, unity and respect for all cultures. These games were the perfect breeding ground for friendship, goodwill and tolerance. The closing ceremony was quite a scene with hundreds of young athletes swapping souvenirs and exchanging goodbyes despite the language barriers.
The organizers and volunteers in Hamilton brought prestige and honour to the city. As the games chairman, Colin Millar, so clearly put it: "It has just been a tremendous success".
The Hamilton community has shown its leadership in organizing a colourful, exciting and memorable event. The federal government of Canada has proven its commitment to the Canadian youth, our future, by funding the 23rd International Children's Games in Hamilton.
Congratulations to all the organizers and participants for a job well done.