Ottawa has lost its bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
In an announcement made early Thursday afternoon, the Canada Games Committee announced the Niagara region as the winner.
Ottawa shared defeat with bids from Greater Sudbury and the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
Mayor Jim Watson admitted that everyone involved in the process is disappointed with the announcement, but those involved in the city's bid should be proud.
"We had an amazing bid, we scored high, " Watson told a quiet crowd at Ben Franklin Place.
"We're proud of the facilities and the volunteers who came together from across the city to put in a really, really good bid for the 2021 Canada Summer Games."
Ottawa Tourism vice-president Glen Duncan, who was heavily involved in the bid preparation, said there is a bright side.
"Hosting major events is a process, and with each bid, there's a takeaway and learnings," Duncan said.
"With each bid, we engage the community and excite the community, and there's a payoff down the road."