Ontario Investing $3 Million to Boost Local Sport Tourism
Province launching next round of the Sport Hosting Program to help bring national and international competitions to Ontario communities
TORONTO — As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is investing in sport tourism to help communities unlock the economic benefits of hosting major sporting events, attract more visitors, create jobs and strengthen local economies across the province. Starting today, the province is now accepting applications for the first intake of the 2027-28 Sport Hosting Program, which provides over $3 million in funding to communities and sport organizations hosting national and international amateur competitions.
“We’re continuing to take action to support major competitions and showcase Ontario as a premier destination for sport,” said Brian Saunderson, Minister of Sport. “By helping communities attract major events, we’re bringing in visitors, supporting local businesses and giving our athletes more opportunities to compete here at home.”
Since 2018, Ontario’s Sport Hosting Program has invested nearly $20 million to support more than 300 national and international amateur sporting events, contributing $278 million to the province’s GDP. Recent events supported through the program include:
U20 Canadian Curling Championship and U21 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship in Sudbury
2026 North American Open Kickboxing Championships in Markham
Upcoming 2026 CCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in Cambridge
The program helps communities attract visitors, boost tourism and generate economic growth while giving Ontario athletes valuable opportunities to compete at the highest levels and excel on the world stage.
Organizations can apply for the 2027-28 Ontario Sport Hosting Program – Intake I funding online through Transfer Payment Ontario until January 11, 2027.
Quick Facts
The Ontario Sport Hosting Program provides $3 million annually to help communities and sport organizations host national and international amateur sporting events.
Each year, the Ontario Sport Hosting Program brings together on average approximately 12,500 amateur athletes, 3,500 volunteers and 100,000 community supporters to Ontario.
Successful applicants can use this funding to help with operational costs, including venue, staffing, participant expenses (such as accommodations and meals) and legacy projects.
The government’s investments through Ontario’s $500 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund help communities upgrade and build new sport facilities, enabling more hosting opportunities.
Quotes
“The 2024 and 2026 Baseball Canada National Championships would not have been the exceptional and successful events they were without the support of the Ontario Sport Hosting Program. This provincial funding support helped create an outstanding experience for athletes, coaches, officials, and fans while showcasing Tecumseh as a premier destination for national sport. We sincerely thank the Government of Ontario for its commitment to amateur athletics and community success in Ontario.”
– Jamie Kell
President, Tecumseh Baseball Club
“The Government of Ontario’s support through the Sport Hosting Program has been instrumental in bringing major artistic swimming events to the province, from our World Cups and Canadian Championships in Markham to the 2026 World Cup Super Final and Canadian Masters Championships at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. These events showcase the lasting legacy of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, inspire the next generation and bring communities together. We are grateful for the province’s partnership, which has helped lay the foundation for Ontario to continue welcoming the world as a premier host of future World Cups.”
– Steve Wallace
Chief Executive Officer, Canada Artistic Swimming
“Hosting world class international events here at home is one of the most powerful things we can do for Ontario athletes, and the Government of Ontario’s Sport Hosting Program makes that possible. We’re grateful to the Ministry of Sport for an investment that supports athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and our resort communities.”
– Janet Richter
Executive Director, Ontario Snowboard
“Ontario’s Sport Hosting Program was an important partner in our ability to host the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey National Championships in 2025 and 2026. The funding helped us deliver a national-calibre experience for student-athletes while extending the impact of the championships into our community in Waterloo Region through youth engagement, development opportunities and initiatives designed to grow women’s hockey. Support for sport hosting allows events like these to be about much more than the competition, creating meaningful experiences and a lasting benefit for our community.”
– Roly Webster
Director, Athletics and Recreation, University of Waterloo
“We are deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for its continued support through the Sport Hosting Program, which has helped us deliver high-quality national boccia championships for Para athletes from across Canada. Ontario continues to demonstrate its leadership in hosting national and international sporting events, and we look forward to returning to Mississauga for the 2027 Boccia National Championships and building on this partnership for future events.”
– Martin Richard
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association / Boccia Canada
