Sport Hosting

From local tournaments to international competitions, B.C. plays host to many sport events. These events showcase the natural beauty of B.C., our people, hospitality and amenities and provide tourism and economic benefits. They also give our athletes home field advantage and reduce training and competing costs.

Sport, Arts and Culture Event Hosting

Every year, visitors from all over the world travel to British Columbia to experience spectacular sport, arts and cultural events. B.C. has a coveted and unique advantage in hosting a wide range of events, featuring just the right mix of world-class facilities, top-notch technical know-how and enthusiastic community spirit. This link connects you to a website with resources to help communities and event organizers showcase B.C. and its rich and diverse mix of sport, arts and culture through events.

Hosting BC

The B.C. Government provides Hosting BC grants to host committees throughout the province, contributing to their efforts to bring sport events home and to raise the profile of B.C. communities in the sport tourism sector. Hosting grants support Canadian championships, world cups and Olympic/Paralympic Games qualifying tournaments ranging from an international wheelchair curling bonspiel in Richmond to a national college soccer championship in Kamloops. Eligible applicants are invited to apply for Hosting BC funding of up to $35,000 depending on the type of event. For more information visit Hosting BC.

Major Sport Event Hosting

Large international and national events such as the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship and Davis Cup tennis are funded through a hosting program. The program focuses on the hosting of single-sport events (e.g. world championships, world cups) and special-focus events such as the North American Outgames or Maccabi Games. Click here for more information.

BC Games

Every two years a B.C. community hosts either a BC Winter Games or BC Summer Games – a multi-sport event bringing young athletes from around the province to compete in what is often their first experience in such an event. It can also be a stepping stone to Canada Games and other regional or national competitions. For host communities, legacies such as trained volunteers, economic benefits (approximately $1.6 million for 2014 Mission BC Winter Games; $2 million for 2014 Nanaimo BC Summer Games), refurbished sport facilities and equipment and new sport programs are lasting reminders of the experience. BC Games also help build a community’s “resume” for hosting major events – thereby helping B.C. to attract other major sporting events. The B.C. Government funds the BC Games Society (a Crown service delivery agency) to provide grants to host communities, train key volunteers, provide Games’ organization guidelines and transport athletes to and from the Games. More information on BC Games can be found at BC Games.

55+ BC Games

The 55+ BC Games promote physical, social, and creative achievement through participation and friendly competition for British Columbians 55 years of age and older. These games – which bring together British Columbians from across the province to compete in events from track and field to dragon boat racing to cribbage – are held in B.C. communities each year and leave important legacies such as trained volunteers, tourism and economic development benefits ($6.5 million for 2022 Greater Victoria Games; $3.3 million for 2017 Greater Vernon Games). The B.C. Government funds the BC Seniors Games Society (which oversees the 55+BC Games) to provide grants to host communities and through its event managers, train key volunteers and provide Games’ organization guidelines. More information on 55+ BC Games and its 12 zones’ competition can be found at 55+ BC Games.