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March 26, 2010 REVISED China Trade 2010 Workshop Invite & Agenda March 2010 BCRST Free Business Webinar Semminars
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Sport Tourism has been an economic strength in Kamloops for years. With many experienced volunteers and high-level officials, as well as numerous first-class facilities, the City of Kamloops is a top choice for hosting sporting events.
As well as being the entranceway to British Columbia's most spectacular adventure destination opportunities, Kamloops is Canada's Tournament Capital, a title earned by the city's friendly approach to visitors and the ability to host major conventions and sporting events.
The City of Kamloops has made the Tournament Capital Program one of its main objectives in their strategic plan. With close to $50 million invested in new and renovated sports facilities, Kamloops is a proven location for hosting tournaments and events. Available facilities include: Hillside Stadium, a 135,000 sq. ft multi-sport facility which includes; the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, a 200 meter, six lane indoor track, specialty designed jumps and throws area, 15,000 sq. ft of gymnastics space, three hardwood courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton and other court activities, 8,000 sq. ft of public fitness rooms, and 3,000 sq. ft of public meeting rooms space for athletic condtioning and training.
Kamloops has 45 tennis courts, seven sports arenas including an Olympic-sized hockey rink, a WHL hockey team (Kamloops Blazers) that plays in a 6,400 seat arena, three indoor swimming pools, a National Standards Baseball Stadium and nine diamonds, plus an International caliber mountain-bike park.
Almost $50,000 in grants annually helps to make these tournaments possible, which created an economic spin-off of $11.1 million in the local economy for 2008.
In 2008, Kamloops hosted 116 tournaments, held numerous cultural events, and welcomed thousands of participants and spectators to the city. 2010 and 2011 also looks to great years for tournaments and events of all sizes and sports. Kamloops will be hosting several upcoming world-class sporting events such as the 2010 CIS Men's Volleyball National Championships, 2010 World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships, 2010 Canadian Gymnastics Championships and the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games.
The City of Kamloops offers many first-class sports facilities for hosting various sporting events.
Interior Savings Centre is built on the shores of the South Thompson River only two blocks from the downtown core. It has a seating capacity of 6,400 and almost 20,000 square feet of exhibition space and is the home of the Kamloops Blazers hockey team.
MacArthur Island Park is a 51 hectare island with multiple sports facilities and parks, located on the north bank of the Thompson River. There are 9 ball diamonds used by minor baseball and 2 major baseball fields: NorBrock Stadium and Canada Games Ball Field. The MacArthur Island Sports Centre contains a 1,200 seat Olympic-size ice surface which is home to the Kamloops Storm hockey team, an NHL-size ice surface and a curling rink with 8 ice sheets. Other facilities on the island include a 9-hole golf course and driving range, a skate park, 6 soccer fields and lawn bowling.
NorBrock Stadium was built as a 1967 Canada Centennial project and seats approximately 1,000 spectators. Every July it plays host to the Kamloops International Ball Tournament.
Hillside Stadium features a 400-metre, all-weather running track and an artificial, fully lit field for football, soccer and field hockey. There are two additional soccer fields as well as track and field facilities. In 2008, the field house was completed and it includes an international-scale indoor track, dedicated gymnastics space, multifunction gym, and retail and classroom space.
The Tournament Capital Centre is made up of the Canada Games Aquatic Centre and a field house. The Canada Games Aquatic Centre features a 50m long-course and 25m short-course pool, complete with 1m, 3m and 5m diving towers. The centre also has 2 hot tubs, sauna, steam room, 210-foot spiral waterslide, Pelican slide and waterfall. There is also an indoor running track, basketball courts, throw and jumping pits, 2 weight rooms and meeting room rentals in the facility.
Charles Anderson Stadium at Exhibition Park is in a great location close to downtown, with well maintained baseball fields, tennis courts, a soccer pitch and plenty of free parking. The facilities at the park include 2 lit diamonds with 375 seating each, announcers building/media centre, concession/storage/dressing room facilities, 2 additional full-size diamonds (300ft>), 2 soccer fields and 3 outdoor tennis courts.
Kamloops Tennis Club has 8 outdoor courts, 5 of which are lit, and 5 indoor courts under the bubble.
The Tournament Capital Grant, provided by the City of Kamloops, is eligible to all amateur sports organizations. The maximum allocation of funds is $200 for a Regional Tournament, $500 for a Provincial Tournament, $1,000 for a Western Canadian Tournament, $1,500 for a National Tournament and $1,500 for an Invitational Tournament. The deadline for application of this grant is 3 months prior to the start date of the planned event.
The PacificSport Travel Grant gives financial aid to athletes and coaches travelling for training and competitions.
"Kamloops rocks as the place to live! It's a place that is engaged in healthy living and activity. With the amazing world-class facilities and coaching, Kamloops continues to produce many high performance athletes to the world stage in their respective sports. With the assistance of PacificSport, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific and the many other partners we believe Kamloops offers many benefits for our stakeholders."
Carolyn Boomer, General Manager, PacificSport Interior BC
Kamloops Tournament Capital Program 2009 Tournament Schedule Kamloops Accommodation Guide Tourism Kamloops
