Vancouver, BC – April 10, 2025 – Are you a business leader, entrepreneur, or sponsorship expert with experience in large-scale international sporting events?
We’re hosting a dynamic series of Business Opportunity Workshops in Vancouver, BC—and we’re looking for engaging speakers to share their insights, success stories, and strategies for capitalizing on the global spotlight these events bring.
With major international sports events, as well as smaller sporting events like the Granfondo or Vancouver Marathon coming to Vancouver, this is a unique moment for local businesses to shine on the world stage. Help others discover how to:
- Build powerful sponsorship and partnership strategies
- Leverage events for brand visibility and community engagement
- Navigate the world of sports marketing and international promotion
- Collaborate with local and international stakeholders
🗓️ Dates & venue to be announced soon
📍 Vancouver, BC
🎤 We welcome speakers from diverse backgrounds—from marketing and hospitality to tech, tourism, and beyond.
👉 Interested in speaking or recommending someone?
Contact us at 604 828 8788 or elke (at) westcoastgermanmedia (dot) com.
Let’s inspire Vancouver’s business community—together.
SOCCER 2026 – Vancouver is scheduled to host five group stage matches in June — two of which will feature Team Canada, which has already qualified as a co-host — a Round of 32 knockout match and a Round of 16 elimination game in July.
The UEFA European Championship for men’s national teams occurs every four years, with the most recent tournament, UEFA Euro 2024, having taken place from June 14 to July 14, 2024, hosted by Germany. The next edition, UEFA Euro 2028, is scheduled for June and July 2028 (exact dates TBD) and will be hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
There’s also the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Here are the details:
- Event: UEFA Women’s Euro 2025
- Dates: July 2 to July 27, 2025
- Location: Switzerland (across eight venues: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Thun, and Sion)
- Details: This is the 14th edition of the UEFA Women’s Championship, featuring 16 national teams competing in a group stage followed by a knockout phase. The final will be held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
Sailing Races
Vancouver still has sailing races. The city’s coastal location along the Pacific Ocean and proximity to English Bay, Burrard Inlet, and the Strait of Georgia make it a hub for sailing. The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC) and other local clubs like the Jericho Sailing Centre and West Vancouver Yacht Club regularly organize regattas. Notable recurring events include:
- Fraser River Lightship Race (typically late September, e.g., September 28, 2024, hosted by RVYC).
- Kitten Cup and T.H.R.A.S.H (spring events, often April, by RVYC and Royal Victoria Yacht Club).
- Melges 24 Canadian Championships (September, hosted by West Vancouver Yacht Club, e.g., September 20-22, 2024). For 2025, BC Sailing is compiling a keelboat racing calendar (expected to be updated soon), and dinghy regattas are also common. Given Vancouver’s consistent sailing culture, events will almost certainly continue into 2026 and beyond, barring unforeseen disruptions.
Bobsledding
Vancouver itself does not host bobsledding events within city limits, as it lacks a bobsled track. However, the Whistler Sliding Centre, about 120 km north in Whistler, BC, is a world-class facility built for the 2010 Winter Olympics and remains active. It hosts:
- FIBT World Cup events (e.g., bobsleigh and skeleton races, typically December or January; 2024-2025 season includes Whistler stops).
- Public sliding experiences and training for athletes year-round. While not in Vancouver proper, Whistler’s proximity ties it to the region’s sports scene. No bobsledding occurs directly in Vancouver due to its urban, sea-level setting and mild climate, but the legacy of 2010 keeps the sport alive nearby.
Cycling Races
Vancouver still has cycling races, though the scene leans more toward recreational and gran fondo-style events rather than elite professional races. Key examples include:
- RBC GranFondo Whistler (annually in September, e.g., September 7, 2024), a 122 km ride from Vancouver to Whistler, attracting thousands of cyclists. It’s confirmed for 2025 (likely September 6).
- Tour de Concord and smaller club races organized by local cycling groups like Cycling BC.
- Historical events like the Tour de Gastown (a criterium race) have been less consistent recently but could return with community support. Vancouver’s bike-friendly infrastructure and scenic routes ensure cycling events persist, with the GranFondo being the standout annual fixture.
Marathons
Yes, Vancouver remains a marathon hub with several prominent events:
- BMO Vancouver Marathon (first Sunday in May, e.g., May 4, 2025), Canada’s largest marathon, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 8K, and kids’ run. It’s a Boston qualifier and draws over 25,000 participants.
- Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K (June, e.g., June 22, 2025, by Canada Running Series), another major event.
- Boundary Bay Marathon (November, e.g., November 3, 2024, by Try Events), a flat, scenic qualifier.
- Smaller races like the Granville Island Turkey Trot (October) and First Half (February) complement the calendar. Marathons are a staple of Vancouver’s running culture, with no sign of slowing down.
Ski Jumping
Vancouver does not have ski jumping events within the city, as it lacks the necessary facilities and elevation for such a sport. The nearest ski jumping infrastructure was historically at Callaghan Valley near Whistler, built for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but those jumps (e.g., HS106 and HS140) have not hosted major competitions since and are primarily used for training or abandoned. Ski jumping in BC is minimal today, with no significant events planned in Vancouver or nearby for 2025 or beyond. Whistler focuses more on alpine skiing and sliding sports, so ski jumping remains absent from the local scene.
International Rugby
Vancouver still hosts international rugby, particularly through the HSBC Canada Sevens, part of the World Rugby Sevens Series:
- When: Annually in late February or early March (e.g., February 21-23, 2025, at BC Place).
- Details: Features top men’s and women’s sevens teams globally, drawing massive crowds (over 60,000 across the weekend).
- Future: Confirmed for 2025, with Vancouver locked in as a host city through at least 2026 under current agreements. Additionally, the Rugby World Cup 2027 is set for Australia, but Vancouver’s rugby infrastructure (e.g., BC Place) and history of hosting (like the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup) could see it host warm-up matches or related events in 2027, though nothing is confirmed yet. Local club rugby also thrives, but the Sevens is the international highlight.
Summary
- Yes: Sailing races, cycling races, marathons, and international rugby are alive and well in Vancouver.
- No (locally): Bobsledding (only in Whistler) and ski jumping (effectively nonexistent in the region now). Vancouver’s sports landscape remains vibrant, especially for running, cycling, sailing, and rugby, leveraging its coastal and urban advantages. For bobsledding and ski jumping, you’d need to look to Whistler or beyond.
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Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp: +1 604 828 8788
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