Association applauds new Canadian policy for hosting future international events

The Government of Canada announced its new federal policy for hosting international sports events, which will provide the foundation for a proactive and strategic approach for the bidding and the hosting of international sport events in Canada. The policy will assist national sport bodies such as the Canadian Soccer Association in securing future international events.
“We applaud the Government of Canada’s proactive approach to hosting future international events,” says Peter Montopoli, General Secretary, Canadian Soccer Association. “Bringing the world to Canada is just another way that we can showcase this great nation while also developing the sport from athletes to infastructure.”
The new policy builds on the Strategic Hosting Framework for Hosting International Sport Events, previously approved by the 14 federal-provincial-territorial governments. With the addition of a $14.7-million annual investment to the current base funding of $1-million, this new policy will help the Government of Canada work with national sport organizations, multi-sport service organizations, and other orders of government to take a proactive approach to bidding for and hosting international sport events in Canada.
The policy will provide an opportunity to adopt, for the first time, a pan-Canadian approach which will significantly strengthen the Government of Canada’s investment and leadership in bidding for and hosting events. The new policy, beginning this year, calls for a maximum of two International Major Multisport Games every ten years, one Large International Single Sport Event every two years, 30 or more Small International Single Sport events each year as well as International Multisport Games for Aboriginal peoples and persons with a disability.
The new policy provides a proactive and strategic approach to bidding and hosting while promoting effective, timely and transparent decision-making coordinated with provinces/territories and the sport community. The policy will also require the sport community to develop their strategic and proactive long-term plans with relation to hosting international sport events in Canada and the new funds will allow for better support for all international single-sport events.
“Hosting international sporting events in Canada provides our athletes and coaches with valuable training and competition experience,” says Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport). “(Hosting) contributes to our goal of becoming a leading sport nation. A coordinated and strategic approach to hosting sport events will ensure Canada maximizes sport, cultural, and economic benefits for Canadian communities.”
The Canadian Soccer Association has a long history of hosting international events. In 2007, the Association hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 in six venues across the country. Along with setting a tournament record for attendance (1,195,268), the tournament generated an incredible $259-million in economic impact and attracted some 469.5-million television viewers. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 was the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance Event of the Year (budget over $250,000).
Five years earlier, Canada hosted a very successful FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (then known as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship Canada 2002). Of note, much of the Canadian team that won silver on home soil recently qualified for the first time ever to the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament scheduled for Beijing.
Since 1967, Canada has hosted three FIFA tournaments, one Olympic Football Tournament, two Pan American Games, and nine CONCACAF tournaments.
More information on the policy: http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/sc/pol/accueil-host/2008/index_e.cfm