The Ontario government is providing up to $1.1 million in additional funding to ensure successful delivery of the 2022 Canada Summer Games to offset increased costs from postponing the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this investment, the government has provided more than $40 million in capital and operating funding to support athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators attending the Games in August.
“The Canada Summer Games are a catalyst for growth in sport and recreation across the country, and provides athletes with an opportunity to pursue excellence,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “Ontario welcomes the opportunity to host this exciting multisport competition in 2022 that local communities, athletes and visitors from across Canada can look forward to, as the sport sector recovers from the effects of the pandemic.”
The 2022 Canada Summer Games will welcome 5,000 participants to compete in a range of summer sporting activities, including athletics, swimming and lacrosse, over a two-week period. The Games are expected to be the largest ever with over 200,000 spectators from across the country expected to attend.
The government’s investment in sport hosting events such as the Canada Games is part of its commitment to fueling the province’s double bottom line: supporting economic growth and strengthening Ontario’s social fabric. The Games will attract visitors, create local jobs and ensure Ontario becomes the destination of choice for national and international events, while cultivating a pride of people and pride of place among athletes, residents and visitors.
“We are thankful to the Government of Ontario for providing additional funding to the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games,” said Doug Hamilton, Board Chair of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. “When Niagara was originally awarded the Canada Games in 2017, no one could have anticipated the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which ultimately forced us to postpone our event to 2022. However, thanks to this additional support, we will be able to better overcome those challenges and host the 2022 Canada Games in the way that they were originally envisioned.”
Quick Facts
- The 2022 Canada Summer Games, originally planned to take place in 2021 in Niagara, were postponed by event organizers to August 6-21, 2022, due to COVID-19 public health concerns.
- For the 2022 Games, Ontario has previously committed a total of $3 million in capital funding and $7.35 million in operating funding for a total of $10.35 million. The government also provided $29 million for the construction of a new sport facility (Canada Games Park) for the Games under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
- The Canada Games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer, and involve athletes from every province and territory.
- Established in 1967, the Games are a celebration of youth, sport, culture and community and are the product of an ongoing collaboration with the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities, and the private sector.
