Seventeen Richmond sport events held between 2022 and 2024 received $125,200 in funding from the provincial government.
The provincial government announced on Sunday that 139 events across B.C. received a total of $1 million in funding through the Major Events Program and Hosting BC. The funding aims to support local athletes and encourage sports tourism.
One event from Richmond, the World Wheelchair Curling Championships held this past week, received $60,000 from the Major Events Program.
“Sport events of all sizes motivate athletes to grow and inspire others to play,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
“The World Wheelchair Curling Championships I attended today are a great example of how sport organizations continue to offer more opportunities for athletes to showcase their skills right here in B.C."
She added that sports events help create "vibrant, active and connected communities" and boost B.C.'s reputation as a "prime destination for sports."
Hosting BC also awarded funding to 16 events held or to be held in Richmond:
- Artistic swimming or para artistic swimming - provincial championships (2023): $2,250
- Athletics of para athletics - national championships (2023): $5,000
- Badminton or para badminton - provincial championships (2023): $4,000
- Badminton or para badminton - regional championships (2023): $1,950
- Badminton or para badminton - Western Canadian team championships (2023): $4,500
- Basketball or wheelchair basketball: national championships (2023): $5,000
- Boccia - national championships (2023): $7,500
- Curling or wheelchair curling - provincial championships (2022): $3,500
- Curling or wheelchair curling - provincial championships (2024): $4,500
- Curling or wheelchair curling - international event (2023): $3,000
- Karate - provincial championships (2023) $3,000
- Karate - Karate 1-Series A tournament (2023): $10,000
- Rhythmic gymnastics - national championships (2023): $2,500
- Softball - U19 women's Western Canadian championships (2022): $4,000
- Wheelchair sports invitational event (2023): $1,500
- Wrestling - Western Canadian age class championships (2023): $3,000
Both the Major Events Program and Hosting BC each receive an annual investment of $500,000. Major Events supports large-scale international and national competitions that help promote B.C. as a sports tourism destination, while Hosting BC supports smaller-scale events and opportunities for under-represented groups.
Charlene Krepiakevich, CEO of viaSport British Columbia, said the organization works with the provincial sports sector to create "more equitable, welcoming and inclusive opportunities for sport participation in B.C."
“Hosting BC grants are intended to strengthen sport in local communities. It ensures athletes have an opportunity to compete close to home, develops local volunteer capacity and delivers economic benefit back to the host community," she said.
"Most importantly at this time, Hosting BC grants help event organizers, still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, to host safe and successful events that rebuild community confidence and connectedness.”
The next round of applications for Hosting BC funding will open in May 2023. For more information, visit the viaSports website.
