Happy New Year from SIRC!

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 - 08:00

2015 has been an exciting “Year of Sport”! We’ve been fortunate to see Canada and Canadian athletes excel on the sporting stage both at home and internationally. From hosting hugely successful international events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the Pan and ParaPan American Games to our athletes’ successes on the field of play, our nation continues to build a strong reputation in sport around the world. Let’s take this opportunity to reflect on the past year, and then look forward towards 2016.

Many great events were held across the country, showing the true passion for sport in Canada:

• The 2015 Canada Winter Games were held in Prince George, B.C. in late February of this year. Featuring athletes from the 12 provinces and territories, the games saw Quebec finish atop the medal standings with 141 medals.
• The sporting world turned their attention to Halifax, as it hosted the 2015 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship from March 28^th-April 5^th of this year. Sweden beat hosts Canada in the semi final, before beating defending champions Norway to claim the title of world champion.
• The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in cities across Canada this past June. Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, and Moncton hosted the seventh edition of the event, which saw 24 countries compete for the title of World Cup champion. The United States of America were crowned champions after beating Japan 5-2 in the final.
• The 2015 Pan American Games were held in Toronto this past summer, which saw over 6,000 athletes from 41 countries compete in the biggest international multi-sport event in Canada’s history. Canada finished second in the medal count, earning 217 gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Looking ahead, there are some exciting national championships scheduled to take place in Canada in 2016:

• 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships - Halifax, Nova Scotia. The event will feature approximately 250 skaters from across the country competing in the men’s, women’s, pair, and ice dance disciplines. The athletes will be organized in three levels: senior, junior, and novice. 
• 2016 Tim Hortons Brier – Ottawa, Ontario. Canada’s men’s national curling championship will see 15 teams compete for the Brier Tankard in February of next year.
• 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts – Grande Prairie, Alberta. Canada’s women’s curling championship can trace its roots back to the 1950’s, and continues strong today as one of Canada’s best known women’s sporting events.
• Rio 2016 Trials and Canadian Track and Field Championships – Edmonton, Alberta. The 2016 edition is extra special for the biggest track and field championship in the country, thanks to the Summer Olympics being held in Rio later that summer.
• Canada Soccer National Club Championships – St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador. The 2016 edition of this historic championship will feature over 2,700 players from across Canada competing for the national title in their age group.

And the eyes of the world will be on Canada as we take the opportunity to host these exciting international events:

• 2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship - St. Catherines, Ontario. This event showcases the brightest young talent in women’s hockey from around the world, and will be held in St. Catherines, Ontario. Defending champions USA will look to repeat their successful 2015 championship.
• 2016 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship - Kamloops, B.C. The best players in women’s hockey come to play in Canada’s west coast. Eight countries will participate in the competition, headlined by rivals Canada and the USA.
• 2016 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship - Swift Current, Saskatchewan. 12 teams from across the globe will compete for the title of world curling champion. Canada has won the most titles in the history of the event with 15.
• Ski Tour Canada 2016 - Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Canmore. The Ski Tour Canada 2016 is an exhilarating eight-stage cross country skiing event held in cities across Canada. This is the first time the FIS World Cup has ever culminated in North America.
• World Cup of Hockey 2016 - Toronto, Ontario. This premier hockey event pits the best players in the NHL against each other, as they play for their home countries in an eight team tournament. Held in late September and early October, it allows all players to participate before the NHL season begins.
• FINA World Swimming Championship - Windsor, Ontario. The world of swimming will descend on Windsor in December for the world championship. More than 1,000 athletes from over 170 countries will compete in the event, which is being held for the 13^th time.
• Surrey 2016 Women’s World Softball Championship - Surrey, B.C. More than 30 nations will be represented at the championship, which will be held in July at baseball diamonds in Surrey and the surrounding area.
• NBA All Star Game - Toronto, Ontario. The 65^th edition of the mid-season exhibition game will feature the biggest stars from the NBA competing for bragging rights in the home of the Toronto Raptors.

The biggest event this year will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as it hosts the 2016 Summer Olympics. The 28^th edition of the historic Summer Olympics will be held over 17 days in August, featuring over 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries competing in 42 different sports! This is the first time that the Olympics will be held in South America. We look forward to all athletes showcasing their best at the Games!

We at SIRC are looking forward to a new year of sport in Canada. From the best in women’s hockey to the best basketball players in the world, Canada will be treated to another set of amazing sporting events in 2016. We can’t wait to help improve the world of sport through partnerships, engagement and information sharing. Here’s to a successful 2016!