This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Toronto chapter.

The Pan Am games are coming to Toronto from July 10 to July 26, and the Parapan Am games are coming August 7 to August 15. Considering how University of Toronto is not only at the heart of the Host City, but is also one of the many venues, we at HerCampus are super excited to be covering the games and the events.

So, this is your survival guide to Pan Am 2015.

For those who are not familiar with the world’s third largest international multi-sport games, Toronto is about to host close to 9,000 athletes from across the Americas in thirty-six Pan Am and fifteen Parapan Am sports—not including the coaches, family members, supporters, sports enthusiasts, etc. Needless to say, this year Toronto will definitely see a population boom for the summer.

Luckily, we’ll have plenty of time to warm up to the games (pun fully intended), as the Torch relay for the Pan Am games began May 30 and will continue until July 10. Over those 41 days, the torch will be passed to 3,000 torchbearers and over 130 communities. If you missed the excitement the first time around, the Parapan Am torch will be passed from August 3 until August 5. Besides being the longest-ever held relay for the Parapan Am games with 250 torchbearers, the flame to be lit in Toronto will have dual origins: one in Ottawa and the other in Niagara Falls. The two flames will be uniting for the Opening Ceremony.

But for those in the Greater Toronto Area (and especially those on campus for summer courses or internships), you’ll want to be careful of the pitfalls, endless amounts of people, and the following locations (unless you want to fully immerse yourself in the games, of course).

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The Varsity Stadium, located on Bloor Street, is going to be the location for archery in both the Pan Am and Parapan Am games. Unfortunately, that means Hoskins Avenue is closed from Devonshire Place to Queen’s Park Crescent West from June 22 to August 22, and Devonshire Place is closed from Hoskins Avenue to Bloor Street West from July 8 to August 20. For people trying to access Trinity or St. Hilda’s College, it’s highly recommended that you leave the car at home and instead take the TTC to St. George Station and to exit on Bedford Street. (It’ll save everyone the hassle of traffic.)

Meanwhile, just across Hoskins Avenue, the newly renovated Pan Am/Parapan Am Fields is visible from the (currently blocked) Tower Road. So for anyone with a class in University College, you might be able to spot the football (what many of us in North America call “soccer”) and the field hockey games. Like the Varsity Stadium, the roads closest to these locations will be shut off to motorized vehicles, so it is highly recommended that people use the TTC to get off either at Museum Station of the Accessibility friendly Queen’s Park Station.

The St. George Campus isn’t the only location hosting the games, however. The University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre will also serve as the location for the wheelchair tennis competitions—something particularly exciting because the thirty-six places will also be competing for a chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. While parking might cost about $20, the traffic shouldn’t suffer more than increased flow.

The Pan Am and Parapan Am games also offer great opportunities for anyone in the area this summer. While the volunteer portal is currently closed from the sheer number of eager and excited volunteers, there is no reason why those in the area can’t offer a helping hand by supplying directions or a friendly smile—especially if you speak a language other than English. (If we’re going to live up to the stereotype, we may as well live up to the stereotype that all Canadians are extremely nice.) And, if you’re in the area, you might want to get in on the excited spirit.

But for those looking for peace and quiet—or simply a way to get to class uninterrupted—you’ll want to do the following:

1. 1. Stay away from the busiest streets during the events: this means Bloor Street, Hoskin Avenue, and many of the local attractions.

2. 2. If you have class near one of these locations, try other ways of getting to the buildings; if you have a map, you’re already more familiar with the University of Toronto campus than 90% of the tourists and visitors.

3. 3. Avoid going to restaurants and cafes at this time (especially busy or popular ones)—bring your own food if at all possible; it’ll beat waiting in line.

4. 4. Be efficient but not rude when someone asks for help or directions. If you can, give directions to the best of your abilities; if you can’t or don’t want to, simply apologize and say that you don’t know.

5. 5. While this may be difficult to do for those who live in the area or have classes on campus, the very best thing to do when you don’t want to get involved is to avoid coming down to the campus or any of the other locations.

But for the rest of us, just remember to stay calm and carry on—preferably with public transportation and a smile. It’s been a while since Toronto hosted such a large event, and it’ll be an interesting experience to say the least. Besides, if all else fails, pull up this guide and dazzle the crowd with your knowledge on the history of the Pan Am games.

(Stay tuned for Part 2 of this guide: how to survive the games as they are happening.)

For more information on the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am games, visit the official site:

http://www.toronto2015.org/

Picture Credits:

http://pentathloncanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/panam-horses-aside…

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http://img0.joyreactor.com/pics/post/community-gif-jeff-winger-party-403126.gif

http://38.media.tumblr.com/f33d4e73fbc3276d01818a9fa861ce69/tumblr_inline_nl4770xnvK1rc2fal.gif

http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2014-11/14/21/tmp/webdr04/anigif_mobile…

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