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TORONTO - A year before the curtain goes up on the 2016 Rio Olympics, Canadas top summer athletes will be playing their hearts out on home soil.Toronto is hosting the 2015 Pan American Games — a direct Olympic qualifying event for many athletes, and a rare chance to compete in front of a Canadian crowd for virtually all of them.Canada is fielding its largest-ever Pan Am Games team of 700 athletes, and has set a goal of finishing second in the medals — behind perennial champion U.S. — with 160.Some 6,600 athletes from 41 countries will compete in 36 Pan Am sports — including 28 Olympic sports — plus 15 Parapan Am sports. Toronto beat out Lima, Peru and Bogota, Colombia, to host the Pan Ams, which run July 10-26. The Parapan Am Games are Aug. 7-14.Here are five Pan Am storylines to watch:The Road to Rio: When Canadas mens field hockey team edged Argentina in a sudden-death shootout at the 2007 Pan Ams in Rio, it clinched the Canadians a spot in the Beijing Games. It was one of the most memorable moments of Rio.Any time an Olympic berth is on the line its super exciting, said former Canadian field hockey captain Ken Pereira. We didnt play well throughout the tournament, all our games were close. But our best game was our finals versus Argentina. We were chasing and behind the whole game and tied it up with under three minutes.The Toronto Pan Ams will be an Olympic qualifier for 19 sports — either directly or indirectly — setting up some thrilling do-or-die moments. With direct qualifiers such as field hockey and mens water polo, its as simple as: win and go to Rio.Among the direct qualifiers: mens and womens field hockey, mens water polo, three-metre and 10-metre individual diving, all three equestrian events (dressage, eventing, jumping), handball, modern pentathlon, sailing (laser and laser radial), shooting (rifle, pistol and shot gun), table tennis and triathlon.---Games Debuts: A year before speedy winger Magali Harvey — the 2014 IRB womens player of the year — and her Canadian womens rugby teammates make their Olympic debut in Rio, theyll play in their first-ever Pan Am tournament. The mens game made its Pan Am debut in 2011, where Canada won gold. Golf, canoe slalom, and womens baseball will also make their Pan Am debuts in Toronto. The golf competition could provide a sneak peak of the Olympics. The sport was on the Olympic program in 1900 and 1904, and will finally make its Olympic return in 2016 in Rio.---Non-Olympic sports: When Stubby Clapp hit his bases-loaded single in the 11th inning against the U.S. at the 1999 Pan Ams in Winnipeg, it put Canadian baseball on the map. Clapp became a household name. Baseball is one of eight non-Olympic sports at the Toronto Pan Ams. This will be their biggest multi-sport experience, and a chance to show they deserve to be on the Olympic program.I think it changed a lot of guys careers, Clapp said of the 99 Pan Ams. That tournament was important for me because I was able to showcase my individual talents, but it was more important for us as a country and as a program that was up and coming, and for all the guys who worked so hard to give our country a good baseball program.The seven other non-Olympic sports are water-skiing, wakeboard, racquetball, squash, baseball, softball, karate and bowling. ---Stars are Born: Perdita Felicien was just out of college when she won silver in the 100-metre hurdles at the 2003 Pan Ams in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton won the gold. Weeks later, Felicien would go on to win the world championships, and she and Foster-Hylton would go on to be two of the worlds best for the next decade.The Pan Am games was the arena I needed to grow my competitive instincts as an athlete, Felicien said. Its a world class competition that builds champions, without it as a platform, I wouldnt have gone on to enjoy 10 years as one of the worlds best hurdlers.---The Controversy: Theres been criticism over the budget. It was originally announced at $1.4 billion — not including the $709 million cost of the athletes village — but is now expected to top $2.57 billion. Security costs were most recently in the news, with organizers estimating costs of $247.4 million, more than double the original estimate of $121.9 million in Torontos bid for the Games.Theres been staffing issues, including the firing of CEO Ian Troop a year ago.Traffic will be a concern for what some are already calling the Gridlock Games. With plans to implement HOV lanes to ferry athletes and officials, residents and businesses have been warned to look for transportation options for next summer. And the big question remains: Will Torontonians, with so many entertainment options, embrace the Games? Chris Lindstrom Jersey . 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Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. Building on the momentum his team built after coming within one made basket of a second round playoff berth, Masai Ujiri appeared on TSN 1050 to discuss the teams press conference to announce the re-signing of their starting point guard and how the Raptors expect their all but finalized roster to compete next season. “For him to commit to us says a lot about him, it says a lot about our fans, it says a lot about the organization and where were trying to go,” Ujiri said of Lowrys new four-year, $48 million contract. Besides Lowry, the GM was also able to re-sign key reserves Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson, and were reportedly in agreement to bring back former Raptor James Johnson.dddddddddddd Asked about how the team will be able to build off their success last season, Ujiri said the focus is giving the roster time to fulfill its potential. “I think its patience and growth and you keep building slowly – were not going to make any crazy moves,” Ujiri said. “Were going to give these guys the opportunity to keep growing. “Well keep trying to grow as a team, thats where we are. Its not a time to make any crazy decisions. Our goal was to bring everybody back to build continuity and thats what were doing.” Ujiri: Lowry signing, building a contender ' ' '