Province expands support for communities hosting national and international amateur sporting events
Funding program aims to strengthen tourism, job creation and athlete development across Ontario
The Ontario government has opened applications for the second intake of its 2026–27 Sport Hosting Program, a provincial initiative designed to help communities and sport organizations host national and international amateur sporting competitions across the province.
The program, administered through Ontario’s Ministry of Sport, provides $3 million annually in funding support to assist organizers with operational and event-related costs. Provincial officials say the initiative is intended to stimulate local economies, increase tourism activity and create opportunities for Ontario athletes to compete at a high level on home soil.
“Hosting and competing in major sporting events is a critical part of the Ontario and Canadian identity,” said Neil Lumsden, Ontario’s Minister of Sport. “Combined with our government’s $500 million investment in sport and recreation infrastructure, the Sport Hosting Program ensures that Ontario communities have both the facilities and funding to attract major events, giving our athletes the chance to compete on home soil.”
The funding program supports both winter and summer amateur sporting events and has become a central component of Ontario’s broader investment in community sport and recreation infrastructure.
More Than 260 Events Supported Since 2018
Since its launch in 2018, the Ontario Sport Hosting Program has supported more than 260 events, contributing an estimated $236 million to the provincial economy.
Recent events funded through the program include the 2026 FIS Ski Cross World Cup in Collingwood, the 2026 Canadian Under-20 Curling Championship and Under-21 Mixed Doubles Championship in Sudbury, the 2026 Canadian Ringette Championships in Ottawa and the 2026 Kickboxing National Championship in Mississauga.
According to the province, the program annually brings together approximately 12,000 amateur athletes, 3,500 volunteers and 100,000 spectators and community supporters.
Successful applicants may use the funding for a range of operational expenses, including venue rentals, staffing, accommodations, meals for participants and legacy projects connected to the events.
The province also noted that through the first intake of the 2026–27 program, Ontario committed more than $1.3 million to support 26 national and international amateur sporting events. Those competitions are expected to attract nearly 10,000 athletes and generate roughly $28 million in economic activity.
Communities report tourism and economic benefits
Organizations that previously received funding through the program say the support has played a significant role in helping communities stage large-scale events and attract visitors from across Canada.
“Support through the Ontario Sport Hosting Program helped Curl Sudbury create a first-class championship environment for Canada’s next generation of curlers during the 2026 Canadian U21/U20 Curling Championships,” said Kelly Irvine, Board Member for Curl Sudbury. “The grant also provided an opportunity to showcase Sudbury on a national stage, as the event welcomed athletes, families, officials and visitors from across the country, generating meaningful community and economic impact.”
Kickboxing Ontario also credited the provincial funding with helping the organization host major competitions in both Mississauga and Markham.
“Kickboxing brings the world to Ontario! Through the ministry’s Sport Hosting Program our Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) was proud to receive funding support to host the 2026 National Championship in Mississauga, as well as an internationally sanctioned 2025 North American Open Championship held in Markham,” said Muzammal Nawaz, C.C., M.Ed., Executive Director of Kickboxing Ontario.
“This support was instrumental in providing the infrastructure, equipment and human resources necessary to deliver two highly successful events. A significant investment has been made in both sport development and tourism across the province from these events. Our PSO is sincerely grateful for the ministry’s continued commitment to sport hosting initiatives that bring premier competitions, athletes, and visitors to Ontario while strengthening the growth of kickboxing across the province and beyond.”
Athlete development remains a key focus
Beyond economic impacts, provincial officials and sport organizations say the program also provides important development opportunities for athletes by allowing them to compete in elite environments without leaving the province.
“As a volunteer-driven host committee, the support of the Ontario Sport Hosting Program was a critical factor in the successful 2026 Canadian Ringette Championships (CRC) held in Ottawa,” said Phyllis Bergmans and Kristian Ewen, Co-Chairs of the 2026 Canadian Ringette Championships.
“The financial commitment of our provincial government was integral to allow us to be athlete-centred in all aspects of the CRCs. To be able to encourage ringette players to strive for the pinnacle of high performance at their national championships was an honour.”
They added that the championships generated positive feedback from participants and visitors while also benefiting Ottawa’s tourism sector.
Alpine Canada also emphasized the importance of provincial funding in supporting international-calibre sporting events.
“The funding support that Alpine Canada is receiving to host the FIS Ski Cross World Cup at Craigleith Ski Club is critical to ensuring that we are able to host a world-class event,” said Jeff Thompson, Senior Vice President Domestic Sport Programs & Events at Alpine Canada.
“Not only does it inspire the next generation of skiers, but it has meaningful impact on the host communities in terms of generating sizable economic impact and brings meaningful activities into the community and surrounding area around the event.”
Applications for the second intake of the 2026–27 Ontario Sport Hosting Program are open through Transfer Payment Ontario until July 13, 2026.