“Sudbury could well become the sports capital of Canada.” While such a statement, these days, might evoke more than a touch of cynicism from a local sports community frustrated with the constant challenges they face, the notion was not as nearly far-fetched back in the summer of 1983.

In fact, it’s a pretty safe bet that Dick DeStefano, chairman of the 1983 Ontario Summer Games staged in this Northern Ontario city, was hardly alone in feeling that Sudbury might well rise to prominence within the world of amateur sports.

The city was a mere three weeks removed from welcoming the Canadian Games for the Physically Disabled to town, with the Canadian Baseball Championships having packed up their tents in late August of that year.

The Ontario Summer Games, making their second appearance in Sudbury, would run from September 2nd through the 5th, crossing over the Labour Day holidays as more than 3,000 athletes and officials ventured north.

“My favourite memory was watching people who were incredibly competent do a job without ever complaining” reminisced DeStefano recently, taking a short break from his role as Executive Director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply & Service Association.

Blessed with an organizational committee that included the likes of Ron Chrysler, John DeDiana, Jim Dickson and the late Sid Forster, DeStefano helped steer the group through a highly successful event, one which he says produced a post-competition surplus of some $ 16,000 or so.

Not surprisingly, some key ingredients to success remain unchanged more than two decades later. “Nothing would have happened without the network of volunteers, absolutely nothing”, stressed DeStefano.

Active within the municipal government scene through the early 1970’s and having served as commissioner of the CRTC, DeStefano was brought aboard by the Minister of Tourism and Recreation to chair the 1983 Ontario Summer Games.

The volunteer post would amount to virtually a full-time job. With the Games rapidly approaching, DeStefano recalls meeting as many as 15-20 times a week with Games General Manager Terry McKinty.

With finances seldom an issue, the 1983 organizing committee were left to tackle other potential areas of concern. “The political protocols were a challenge” laughed DeStefano, acknowledging an area that is not likely to change substantially come 2010.

“I think our biggest disappointment was in attendance – people are just not all that interested in multi-sport events where they do not know some of the people who are participating”, conceded DeStefano.

Still, there were local athletes of some notoriety, including a handful that are still talked about to this day. The incredible natural athleticism of Dave Savage was showcased as the Lo-Ellen Park runner captured Gold in both the 800m (1:53.07) and 1500m (3:54.01) events.

Marnie Pettit would complete an intriguing double-whammy, finishing first in both the female 17-18 orienteering competition as well as winning the ladies javelin event in track & field.

And the ball diamonds appear to have been the pastime of choice for fun-loving hockey players as OHLers to be Scott McCrory, Marc Laforge and Sean Gauthier were teammates within the Baseball competition while future Wolves captain Todd Lalonde took to the field as part of the Garson Peewee Softball contingent.

Sports like waterskiing and orienteering have now been replaced by the likes of lacrosse and the triathlon. Yet the essence of why these Games should be bid upon in the first place is still the same, according to DeStefano.

“It helps to establish a sense of community through sport, sports infrastructure benefits, and it’s good for the economy.” An advocate for amateur sports during his time on council, DeStefano acknowledges that his initial support of the Ontario Summer Games had little to do with the financial repercussions of the sport tourism industry.

“When I was involved in the 1970s, I never thought of it as being an economic issue – I simply thought of it as a sports issue”, he states. “There’s also an attractiveness to a city that’s busy.”

Beyond the memories, there are certainly keepsakes which stir the cobwebs of visions and stories now more than a quarter century old. DeStefano still holds a Gold medallion from the 1983 Games, along with various program and administrative literature.

Assessing his own role, he provides an interesting thought of the contrasting skill-set required to effectively function as Games Chairman. “I think you need to have the ability to build consensus, but also the ability to make unilateral decisions when necessary.”

And while Dick DeStefano is no longer actively involved in the administration of amateur sport, he’s not without opinion on what might be done locally to move this sector forward.

“I think we need to prioritize – we need to establish a clear mandate of what five or six or ten sports that we really want to take a lead role in.” A mandate that seemed a lot more likely back in 1983.