Hamilton to host 2028 International Children's Games

Hamilton will host the 2028 International Children's Games. The 60th anniversary event will be held July 3 to 8, 2028 and will welcome athletes ages 12 to 15 from 35 countries to compete in everything from flag football, beach volleyball and swimming to judo, soccer and 3-on-3 basketball. Sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, the games support international friendship through sport. Hamilton officially won its bid following a presentation during the 2026 games last month in Hualien, Taiwan and a ceremonial presentation is slated for council on Wednesday. McMaster University will serve as the main hub for sports venues, dining and lodging for the event. Coun. Esther Pauls, who has attended multiple International Children's Games as the city's representative, told The Spectator bringing the games back to Hamilton — which previously hosted in 1994 and 2000 — was a 'no-brainer.' She noted the economic impact of the games will be 'fabulous' for the city and will put Hamilton on the map for visitors. Coun. Esther Pauls, who has attended multiple International Children's Games as the city's representative, told The Spectator bringing the games back to Hamilton — which previously hosted in 1994 and 2000 — was a 'no-brainer.' Councillors voted to pursue a bid for the games last summer and the Ward 7 councillor said at the time the games bring people together and 'uplift' the host city — something she believed Hamilton needs. 'We are promoting Hamilton, we're promoting Canada — and I think it's so important.' A report to the city's tourism development corporation board of directors this week notes the total budget for the event is expected to be $2 million. Last summer, council approved spending up to $500,000 from the conventions, sports and events reserve to support the bid and hosting the games. However, a staff report noted if the city were not selected for the games, none of the funds would be spent. That money was previously earmarked for a city bid for the 2026 Brier Canadian Men's Curling Championship, but that potential bid was scrapped after Oak View Group — which manages TD Coliseum — could not commit to the amount of time needed for setup and the event, due to the demand at the new arena. To make up the remainder of the $2-million budget, the report indicates a provincial grant has been awarded, although the amount has not been made public. The host committee is also expected to conduct additional fundraising. The report notes the 2028 games — which are expected to attract up to 1,200 athletes, plus coaches, officials, and family members — are anticipated to generate $9.3-million in economic impact. Ryan McHugh, the city's tourism events manager, told councillors last summer the annual games were first held in 1968 and usually consist of 1,000 to 2,000 athletes from around the world. He noted a lot of the expense of hosting the games is transporting people from the airport to McMaster. McHugh said given the city's strong record of hosting the games and other events like the Grey Cup, the International Children's Games committee was 'very interested' in Hamilton submitting a bid.Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.