Vancouver is the top sports city in North Americaand 6th in the world, according to an annual ranking by SportBusiness Group. The city finished behind Sydney, Berlin, London, Singapore and overall winner, Melbourne.
The ranking received plenty of applause in Vancouver given that the city just hosted the biggest and most successful sporting event in Canadian history – the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. According to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, “It should be no surprise that Vancouver ranks so highly as a sports city. Our city has terrific venues, outstanding amenities and infrastructure, and energetic citizens who are great hosts, which is why we look forward to hosting more top calibre sporting events in the months and years ahead.”
Aside from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver and its surrounding communities have hosted a number of major sporting events in recent years including the World Police and Fire Games (2009), Triathlon ITU World Championships (2008), and FIS Snowboard World Cup (2009). Annual sporting events in Vancouver include the Vancouver Sun Run (one of the largest 10 km runs in the world), Stanley Park Open Pro Am Tennis Tournament (one of the largest public tournaments in the world), BMO Vancouver Marathon, and Vancouver Triathlon.
