Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/848305
O P E R A T I O N A L P L A N • 4 3 During the 2023 WPFG, the Social and Special Events Programming Committee will ensure that the participants, their families, spectators and Winnipeg residents are able to experience community and cultural programming at a central location, designated as "the Games Village." The main venue proposed for the Games Village is The Forks, located in downtown Winnipeg. It's an urban oasis for residents and tourists alike. The Forks is located within walkable distance from downtown hotels and is located approximately 20 minutes' drive from all the sport facilities. The Forks is Winnipeg's most beloved and preeminent meeting spots, at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers. The Forks possesses a rich 6,000-year-old history. Early Aboriginal peoples traded at The Forks, followed by European fur traders, Métis buffalo hunters, Scottish settlers, riverboat workers, railway pioneers and tens of thousands of immigrants. The Forks contains an array of dining experiences, unique shopping, a constantly changing slate of entertainment and events, and many attractions that encompass the site's natural, historic and man-made features. The Forks is Winnipeg's number one tourist destination with more than four million visitors annually. The Forks location is a convenient five-minute automobile ride from the proposed host hotel. Within The Forks site, Festival Park and Scotiabank Stage is the epicentre for many of Winnipeg's finest concerts and events including the annual Canada Day Celebrations at The Forks. The Forks plays host to an unparalleled array of events and entertainment appealing to visitors of all ages. With over 200 events throughout the year, The Forks can always be counted on for quality entertainment. The Social and Special Events Programming Committee will plan nightly activities and coordinate programs to engage and entertain the games participants, their families, the officials, the spectators and the general public. Building off of the 2009 WPFG in Vancouver, the 2023 WPFG Host Society will continue the Observer Program. As with the initiative developed in 2009 in Vancouver, the participants of the Observer Program will have the opportunity to meet and work with the group that will deliver the 2023 Games. This will allow them to develop intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Organization Committees and the process required to host a successful WPFG. GAMES VILL AGE OBSERVER PROGR AM William Au