Alberta’s government is continuing to build the province’s strong legacy of hosting world-class sporting events. Hosting these events will create opportunities for Alberta athletes to experience the excitement of competing in front of a hometown crowd while serving as an inspiration to the next generation of athletes.
Over the past year, Alberta’s government has provided $2.5 million in funding through the Major Sport Event (MSE) grant program to support sport events across the province. Through the grant, Alberta’s government has committed more than $500,000 to help support six international and national competitions including boxing, squash, diving, volleyball, mountain biking and track and field athletics. The six events are estimated to have a total global viewership in the hundreds of thousands across 40 countries.
“Alberta’s proud history of hosting world-class sport events continues as we make these investments, driving economic growth, creating jobs and supporting businesses. That’s good news for all Albertans, especially for those who won’t want to miss the chance to see world-class athletes competing in our own backyard. These six events will create opportunities for Alberta athletes to experience the excitement of competing in front of a hometown crowd and inspire the next generation of Alberta athletes.”
The MSE grant provides up to $250,000 to eligible sport events to help with costs associated with hosting national and international scope competitions, including facility rentals, venue enhancements, promotional and marketing campaigns, broadcasting and ensuring top-notch accommodations for athletes and attendees.
Hosting these events has an economic impact in the millions per event and builds upon the province’s reputation as a premier host for major events and an attractive travel destination for visitors from around the world.
“Explore Edmonton is thrilled to welcome additional major sporting events to the capital city. Edmontonians love to support sporting events of all kinds and our welcoming spirit makes participants feel at home when they’re here. They also deliver a major economic impact, with participants filling hotel rooms, dining in restaurants and shopping and visiting local attractions. The last time the Volleyball Canada National Championships was in Edmonton in 2022, it brought in $31.7 million in total economic impact.”
The first of these events is the inaugural 2024 Boxing Canada Cup, taking place from March 20-24 at the Genesis Centre in Calgary. The four-day event will welcome more than 400 athletes from across Canada, India, Ireland and the USA for the 2024 Junior and Youth National Championships alongside the first-ever Open U23 Elite Competition. With spectators, coaches and athletes from around the world converging in Calgary, the event is expected to bolster hotel bookings and activity at local businesses, resulting in an economic impact of about $1 million.
"Boxing Canada is thrilled to host the inaugural Canada Cup in conjunction with the Youth and Junior National Championships. This event will celebrate the passion for boxing in Canada. It will showcase the dedication of our athletes and highlight Calgary's vibrant spirit and hospitality. It's a platform where dreams are nurtured and the city's sport culture shines, fostering excitement within our boxing community.”
Quick facts
- Upcoming international and national sporting events:
- 2024 Boxing Canada Cup – Calgary – March 20-24
- 2024 Canadian Junior and Senior Squash Championships – Calgary – April 27-May 5
- 2024 Canada Cup of Diving – Calgary – April 29-May 4
- 2024 Volleyball Canada Youth National Championships & Para Super 6 Event – Edmonton – May 15-26
- World Athletics Silver Continental Tour - Edmonton Athletics Invitational – Edmonton –June 11-14
- 2024 Canmore Canada Cup and Alberta Cup – Canmore – June 11-14