Kamloops is in a race with Edmonton to host the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships.

City Tournament Capital co-ordinator Sean Smith said Thursday a presentation team is being put together to make the final pitch to the selection committee in Ottawa on May 24.

That’s also the day the winning city will be chosen.

Smith said Kamloops submitted a letter of intent to host the event last summer. At that time Kamloops was up against 10 other cities in Canada.

The bid was in by the end of January, and on Thursday the shortlist was revealed.

It was shorter than Smith expected. Only Kamloops and Edmonton are in the running.

It comes down to the presentations.

“We’re going to present our bid in person and answer more specific questions. They will have gone through each bid with a fine toothcomb. They’re going to want some clarification,” he said.

The initial bid suggested 500 to 600 people attend the championships — not a big number compared with some of the other sporting events Kamloops has hosted, he said, adding the local track and field club is involved in the bid process.

“This is not a stretch for the Kamloops Track and Field Club as well.”

"As home to Olympic medalist hopeful Dylan Armstrong, Kamloops knows the value of supporting sport and fostering local talent," said Mayor Peter Milobar.

Smith said it’s for events like these that the Tournament Capital facilities were built.

“I would guess that it’s fairly prestigious. Any time you’re attracting athletes from the Pan American countries, it’s something you can put a feather in your hat over,” he said.

The championships would be held at the TCC, with Thompson Rivers University dormitories and hotels nearby.

They are held every two years for athletes under 20 years of age and they rotate among North America, South America and Central America.