Who Can Apply to the International Single Sport Events (ISSE) Hosting Program

The International Single Sport Events (ISSE) Hosting Program is a federal sport hosting grant under Sport Canada at Canadian Heritage. It supports Canadian organizations to host international single‑sport events in Canada, including World Championships, World Cups, and Olympic or Paralympic qualification events. This guide explains who can apply to the ISSE Hosting Program, using clear criteria and examples so you can self‑assess eligibility with confidence.

ISSE eligibility is centered on Canadian National Sport Organizations (NSOs) that operate high‑performance programs aligned with the Canadian High‑Performance Sport Strategy. Beyond the applicant profile, the program expects events to be on the Olympic or Paralympic program, sanctioned by the relevant international federation, and hosted in Canada. Read on for the full eligibility checklist, operational expectations, and common edge cases.

Program Overview

• Program name: International Single Sport Events (ISSE) – Hosting Program.

• Administered by: Sport Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage.

• Purpose: Support hosting of international single‑sport events in Canada to enhance high‑performance sport development and elevate the international profile of Canadian sport organizations.

• Event scope examples: Senior or junior World Championships, World Cups, Continental Championships, World University Championships, Olympic and Paralympic qualification events, and annual international events, provided they are on the Olympic/Paralympic program.

• Intake timing: Ongoing. Sport Canada expects applications to arrive 6–24 months before the event start, depending on the request tier.

Understanding who can apply is the first step in using this federal sport hosting grant effectively. The sections below outline applicant, project, and compliance requirements in detail.

Applicant Type Requirements

To be eligible for the ISSE Hosting Program, your organization must meet the following core criteria:

• Be a Canadian National Sport Organization (NSO):

• National governing body for a single sport with jurisdiction across Canada.

• Typically a not‑for‑profit incorporated in Canada, with a board of directors and national membership.

• Be a summer or winter NSO:

• The sport must be recognized within the Olympic or Paralympic ecosystem as a summer or winter discipline.

• Operate evaluated high‑performance programs:

• Your NSO should have high‑performance programs that have been evaluated and are aligned with the Canadian High‑Performance Sport Strategy.

• High‑performance alignment means your programming supports national team athletes through well‑defined performance pathways and competition plans.

• Be recognized and sanctioned appropriately:

• Recognition by Sport Canada as a national sport organization.

• International federation affiliation and ability to secure event sanctioning.

• Apply as the NSO (not a third party):

• Applications must be submitted to Sport Canada via the appropriate NSO. Local organizing committees (LOCs), clubs, municipalities, and for‑profit event companies are not the primary applicants and must work through the NSO.

These requirements reflect the program’s focus on national, high‑performance sport leadership and compliance.

Size & Scale Criteria

ISSE does not prescribe minimum revenue or headcount, but your NSO must demonstrate capacity to deliver a major international event responsibly. Typical indicators include:

• Governance and management:

• Active board oversight, clear policies, and experienced staff or contractors in event delivery.

• Project management capacity to deliver milestones, manage budgets, and report on results.

• Financial capacity and controls:

• Ability to manage a federal contribution agreement, cash‑flow reimbursement, and maintain separate project‑level accounting records.

• Where total federal support is $250,000 or more, capacity to arrange an audited project financial report.

• Safe Sport and compliance culture:

• Disciplinary and appeals procedures with independent dispute resolution access (e.g., via the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada).

• Adoption of the Canadian Anti‑Doping Program and endorsement of the Canadian Policy against Doping in Sport.

• Abuse‑prevention training for individuals affiliated with the organization and participation in recognized Safe Sport programs.

• Official languages readiness:

• Ability to plan for bilingual communications and public‑facing services where required by the project’s scope.

Capacity expectations scale with event size and funding tier. For Tier II requests (over $250,000), Sport Canada expects more robust planning, governance, and financial oversight.

Geographic Eligibility

• National scope, hosted in Canada:

• ISSE is a federal program available to eligible NSOs across Canada, including Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic provinces, and territories.

• The event must be staged in Canada. Events outside Canada are not eligible.

• Local partners welcome, but NSO leads:

• Municipalities, universities, clubs, and LOCs may partner with the NSO. However, the NSO remains the applicant of record and accountable for the contribution.

• Official languages considerations:

• For national‑scope events that serve both English‑ and French‑speaking communities, applicants must plan communications and services in both official languages commensurate with the activity’s public reach.

Project & Activity Requirements

Eligibility is also tied to the nature of the event your NSO intends to host:

• Sport on Olympic/Paralympic program:

• The discipline must be on the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games competition calendar.

• Event types considered:

• Senior World Championships.

• Senior World Cups, Senior Continental Championships, World University Championships.

• Junior World Championships, Junior World Cups, Junior Continental Championships.

• Annual international events.

• Note: Only events on the Olympic or Paralympic program are eligible. Priority may be given to competitive opportunities for under‑represented groups.

• NSO strategic alignment:

• The event must appear in the NSO’s Hosting Plan and be consistent with high‑performance and long‑term athlete development (LTAD) competition plans for national team athletes.

• Sanctioning and standards:

• International federation sanctioning is expected.

• Compliance with anti‑doping, safety, accessibility, and event integrity standards applicable to your sport.

• Timing and readiness:

• Applications are accepted continuously, but Sport Canada expects submissions 6–24 months before the event start date:

• Tier I (requests up to $250,000): minimum 6 months prior.

• Tier II (requests over $250,000): minimum 24 months prior.

• Plan your project timelines, risk management, and procurement accordingly.

Financial & Operational Criteria

While not all of the items below are “entry” criteria, they are critical to determine your NSO’s readiness and ongoing eligibility through the funding cycle:

• Government assistance limits:

• Combined support from ISSE and other governments (federal, provincial/territorial, municipal) cannot exceed 100% of total project costs.

• Federal share for larger projects:

• For federal contributions greater than $250,000, the Government of Canada will limit its contribution so that it does not exceed 35% of total event costs and 50% of total government assistance.

• Contribution agreement obligations:

• Funding is provided as a contribution with conditions. No payment is issued until the agreement is signed and initial conditions are met.

• Interim and final reporting is required; an audit of project costs is required at or above the $250,000 level.

• Allowable cost practices:

• Travel, meals, and accommodation must follow Government of Canada travel rates.

• Only project‑related costs supported by paid original invoices may be claimed. In‑kind contributions can be recognized as project contributions but are not reimbursable.

• Ethical and legal expectations:

• No sponsorship, promotional, or financial arrangements with tobacco or cannabis product industries while receiving Sport Canada support.

• Compliance with applicable laws, public health directives, and, where applicable, environmental assessment requirements.

• Respect for anti‑racism and inclusion values consistent with federal policies.

• Official languages acknowledgment:

• Public acknowledgment of Government of Canada financial support in English and French is required for communications and promotion related to funded activities.

These criteria reflect standard expectations for federal funding recipients and should be factored into your eligibility self‑assessment.

Ineligible Applicants

Organizations generally not eligible to apply directly include:

• Provincial or territorial sport organizations (PSOs/TSOs).

• Multi‑sport organizations applying for multi‑sport events under this component.

• Local clubs, community associations, or for‑profit event promoters applying independently.

• Municipalities, universities, colleges, and schools applying without the NSO.

• Organizations not recognized by Sport Canada as the NSO for the relevant sport.

• NSOs without evaluated high‑performance programs aligned to the Canadian High‑Performance Sport Strategy.

• Organizations proposing events not on the Olympic or Paralympic program.

• Organizations proposing events to be hosted outside Canada.

Partnership with the NSO is encouraged for local delivery, but the NSO must be the applicant of record.

Special Cases & Exceptions

• Joint delivery with an LOC:

• NSOs may partner with a local organizing committee. The NSO remains accountable. In some cases, the NSO may redistribute funds to a final recipient through a separate agreement mirroring the federal terms.

• New or restructured NSOs:

• Eligibility hinges on recognition and on having evaluated high‑performance programs. If recognition or evaluation status is pending, your NSO may need to wait for confirmation before applying.

• Junior‑level events:

• Junior World Championships, World Cups, and Continental Championships are eligible when on the Olympic/Paralympic program and aligned with the NSO’s pathways.

• Olympic/Paralympic qualifiers:

• Qualification events on the official program are eligible when sanctioned and aligned with the NSO plans.

• Multi‑year requests:

• Projects spanning more than 12 months are possible with a clear justification, realistic multi‑year timelines and budgets, sound governance, and demonstrated financial viability.

• Provincial availability:

• The program is national. NSOs hosting in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and other jurisdictions are equally eligible provided all criteria are met.

Self‑Assessment Checklist

Use this yes/no checklist to gauge your eligibility for the ISSE Hosting Program:

• Are you the recognized Canadian NSO for a single sport with national jurisdiction?

• Is your sport on the Olympic or Paralympic program?

• Do you operate evaluated high‑performance programs aligned with the Canadian High‑Performance Sport Strategy?

• Is the proposed event hosted in Canada?

• Is the event listed in your NSO Hosting Plan and consistent with your high‑performance and LTAD competition plans?

• Can you obtain international federation sanctioning for the event?

• Can you submit within ISSE timelines (Tier I: ≥6 months before; Tier II: ≥24 months before)?

• Do you have governance, staff/contractors, and project management capacity to deliver?

• Can you manage a contribution agreement, budgeting, and claims with original paid invoices?

• Are your anti‑doping, Safe Sport, and dispute‑resolution policies in place or ready to be implemented?

• Can you meet official languages obligations for public‑facing activities, where applicable?

• Do you have the financial controls to support interim/final reporting and, if required, an audited project financial report?

• Do you accept government assistance limits and cost‑share parameters for larger federal contributions?

• Are you free of outstanding obligations to Sport Canada (e.g., no overdue final reports on prior projects)?

If you answered “yes” to all or nearly all, your NSO likely meets ISSE eligibility. If “no” appears on key items (recognition, sanctioning, HP alignment, Olympic/Paralympic status, event hosted in Canada), address those gaps before applying.

Conclusion

The ISSE Hosting Program is a federal sport hosting contribution designed for Canadian NSOs with evaluated high‑performance programs to stage international single‑sport events in Canada. Eligibility focuses on the NSO’s status and capacity, alignment with the Canadian High‑Performance Sport Strategy, event fit with Olympic/Paralympic programs, sanctioning, and national strategic plans. By using the checklist above and confirming organizational readiness, you can confidently assess whether your NSO qualifies to apply for this Canadian Heritage sport hosting funding and plan next steps within the required timelines.