How Toronto bars are gearing up for a busy Olympics | CBC News

The Paris Olympics are officially underway, and bars across the city are preparing to host fans ready to cheer on Team Canada. 

One of them will be Peaches, a women’s sports bar that’s been buzzing much of the year with the success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). 

The bar will be opening earlier, at 11 a.m., to accommodate a crowd looking to cheer on Canada’s women in Paris. 

“It’s a really exciting thing for us because this is our first Olympics since we’ve opened,” said co-owner Veronica Saye. “This is a new experience for us, so we’re interested to see what the level of interest is.”

Saye says she’s especially excited by the “exploding” interest in female, non-binary and queer athletes. She said the bar will have the sound on for every women’s event they show. 

Canadians will have a lot to cheer for on the women’s side this year, after Toronto swimmer Summer McIntosh beat her own world record time in the 400-metre individual medley at the Olympic trials in May. While, the women’s basketball team squeaked into the games after Spain beat Hungary 73-72 in a 22-point comeback at the qualifying tournament.

On the men’s side, Markham’s Andre De Grasse will be sprinting for medals in the 100m. That popular event will be stretched across the 10-metre screen at Real Sports in the heart of downtown. 

For people hoping to be there to see it, the bar’s senior director of strategy operations, Matthew Valentine, has a reminder. 

“If you want to watch some of the bigger marquee events, make a reservation,” he said.

The Paris Olympics run until Aug. 11.