OTTAWA: CANADA AND SPORTS IN ONE CITY

 

Ottawa is one of the world’s greatest capital cities, situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe. Ottawa is fully equipped with a wide range of facilities and perfectly positioned to stage provincial, national and international events, making it an excellent host of sporting events. In 2017, Ottawa was named Destination of the Year by Sport Tourism Canada. 

 

The hub 

Ottawa is a world-class city making it an ideal place to host your next event. With a bustling population of more than 1.2 million people and conveniently located between Toronto, Montreal, and New York, Canada’s capital puts your event and your athletes on a national stage. If you’re looking for an unparalleled experience for your participants, spectators, and sponsors, look no further than Ottawa. 

 

The Capital of Sport 

 

Ottawa boasts many sports facilities, including major arenas, stadiums, and bodies of water such as the Canadian Tire Centre, TD Place, Ottawa Stadium, the Rideau Canal, and the Ottawa River. It also has excellent venues for track and field, watersports, cycling, swimming, diving, outdoor winter sports, soccer, football, rugby and more!  

 

Ottawa is home to many of Canada’s national and multi-sport organizations, including the professional, university, and college sports teams that represent them:  

  • Ottawa REDBLACKS (Canadian Football League)
  • Ottawa Senators (National Hockey League)
  • Ottawa Blackjacks (one of 10 teams in the newly formed Canadian Elite Basketball League [CEBL])
  • Atlético Ottawa (Canada Premiere League) 
  • Ottawa 67’s (Ontario Hockey League)

    The City of Ottawa’s Economic Development and Innovation Department, in collaboration with Ottawa Tourism, has enjoyed remarkable success from their joint strategy of “bid more, win more, host more.” Ottawa’s Major Events and Sport team is proud to have hosted a variety of national and international events, such as: 

    • 2022 CP Women’s Open 
    • 2022 Bingham Cup 
    • 2022 Ontario Summer Indigenous Games  
    • 2022 Yonex Para Badminton Championships 
    • 2022 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships 

      Sport begins here 

      Ottawa Tourism’s Major Events and Sport team can assist you in every aspect of planning a successful event, from the initial request for proposal to long after your event has ended, with services such as:  

      • Financial Incentives 
      • Bid Development 
      • Accommodation and Venue Sourcing 
      • Site Visit Coordination 
      • City of Ottawa & Mayor’s Office Liaison 
      • Destination Content, Visitor Information, Custom Itineraries, Photos & B-Roll 
      • Event Supplier Referrals, Logistics, Transportation, Entertainment 

         

         

        The Ultimate Location 

        Ottawa’s international airport is just 15 minutes from the city’s compact downtown, which itself features a new light rail system. The city’s amenities and attractions are easily accessible, and visitors may stay at hotels that include 10,000 hotel rooms from modern dormitories to high-end accommodations. You’ll find over 6,000 hotel rooms in the downtown core alone – all adept at group hosting and offering meeting facilities and services. 

        When you arrive in Ottawa, you will immediately feel connected to Canada. Rich in history and culture, you can uncover the complexity of a unique capital and distinctive city. Ottawa is not a large sprawling metropolis—or even a small one, for that matter—but offers a reduced transportation footprint and walkable downtown, making it easy to navigate during competitions. While not competing, your athletes can discover what Canada is all about: they can revel in the natural beauty of both its urban and rural landscapes; embrace the country’s spirit at national and seasonal events, celebrations, and festivals; and explore its stories at national landmarks, sites, and museums. 

         

        Ottawa is a great host city and proud of it! Ottawa Tourism is here to inspire your next sport event. Contact Rob Kawamoto or Mark Pearson to start planning 

          Rob Kawamoto
          Assistant Director, Major Events & Sports at Ottawa Tourism
          rkawamoto@ottawatourism.ca
          613-237-5150 Ext. 1126

          Mark Pearson
          Manager, Major Events & Sports at Ottawa Tourism

          mpearson@ottawatourism.ca
          613-237-5150 Ext. 1117 

          If you would like to be the next member whose profile will be featured on the STC website, contact Barb MacDonald, Communications Consultant at bmacdonald@sporttourismcanada.com.