Support for Sport in Canada

Support for Sport in Canada

The Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, is the single largest investor in Canada's amateur sport system. The mission of Sport Canada is to enhance opportunities for all Canadians to participate and excel in sport.

The Government of Canada is the single largest investor in Canada's sport system, providing funding for initiatives to support our high-performance athletes and to promote sport participation among all Canadians, from playground to podium.

Each year, about $64 million of the Sport Support Program's total amount is provided as enhanced excellence funding for targeted sports and athletes with medal potential at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, based on recommendations made by Own the Podium.

Canada is proud to be a leading sport nation—both at home and abroad—where all Canadians can enjoy, value, and celebrate the benefits of active participation and excellence in sport.

Support for the sport system involves many stakeholders, including the Government of Canada, the private sector, provincial and territorial governments, multisport service organizations, and national sport organizations.

Wrestling is a popular recreational and competitive sport in Canada. There are different forms of wrestling that reflect the country’s diversity and multicultural composition.

Curling is a popular sport in Canada, especially in the Prairie Provinces with the several popular teams in the country based in Alberta and Manitoba. Curling in Canada has always been associated with the military and was brought into the country from Scotland.

The root of basketball is firmly embedded in Canada. The modern basketball game was founded by a Canadian, James Naismith, in 1891 while working as a physical education instructor in the US. Several players who took part in the first game came from Canada. Today, basketball is a major sport in the country, especially in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Alberta.

Rugby was probably introduced in Canada by the Royal Navy in 1823 that also fostered its development in different parts of the country. Although the game disappeared completely from the country, it was re-introduced by the formation of the national team and an armature domestic competition.

Soccer has been a popular sport in Canada since 1876. It is the most popular sport in the country in terms of participation rate with over 2.7 million people taking part in the game in 2006. Soccer in Canada is governed by the Association of Football known as Canadian Soccer Association.

Hockey is an all-year-round sport in Canada at all levels. The modern ice hockey in Canada began in the 19th century and is country’s popular pastime with participation from across the ages. Hockey’s governing body is the Hockey Canada, which is also a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Canadian Hockey National Team for the men competes in international tournaments like Olympics.