OTTAWA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday welcomed the announcement that the 17th Pan American and Parapan American Games have been awarded to Toronto and the Greater Golden Horseshoe area of Ontario province.

    The decision was announced earlier Friday at the Pan American Sports Organization meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico.

    "This is an exciting day for all Canadians. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Games in 2015," Harper said in a government press release.

    After the Winter Games of 2010, the Pan American and Parapan American Games of 2015 will ensure that Canada continues to be a leader in sport on the world stage, he said.

    The Pan American and Parapan American Games are an international multisport event held every four years. The Games host competitors from all nations in the Americas. The last Games were held in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the next will be in 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.