Sport is in our DNA
Montréal’s sport legacy goes back many decades. For instance, North America’s first YMCA opened in our fair city in 1851. We were the first metropolis outside of the USA to have a major league baseball team. Montréal is also home to the most historic team in the NHL — go Habs! — and an emblematic local experience is to watch a hockey game at a neighbourhood bar.
Our Olympic Heritage
One of our most memorable moments was in 1976 when we hosted the world’s largest sporting event: The Olympic Summer Games. In Montréal, gymnast Nadia Comăneci scored a “Perfect 10” and Bruce Jenner won the gold medal for decathlon. Now, more than 40 years after hosting the Games, Montréal’s Olympic Park remains one of the most utilized in the world for a vast range of sporting competitions. Although the Olympic Park was the main hub of the Montréal 1976 Games, several other venues located in the vicinity are still being used as sport complexes today.
We’re proud of this sporty heritage. This is proven by ongoing upgrades: the city continues to invest millions of dollars to modernize existing sites, as well as to build new ones. From the massive Olympic Stadium (with a 56,000-spectator capacity) to smaller niche venues, Montréal is fit for your event.
Just take a peek at our track record.
Our organizational and technical expertise has been proven on multiple occasions by attracting large-scale national and international sporting events. Examples include the massively successful Summer Olympic Games, FINA World Aquatics Championships and FIFA Women's World Cup. The list continues.
An Olympic hub and a leading sports-oriented metropolis
Montréal is also headquarters to a Canadian Olympic Committee office, many National Sport Organizations such as Judo Canada, Boxing Canada, Climbing Escalade Canada and Karate Canada, and the World Anti-Doping Agency. What’s more, Montréal is home to the Institut national du sport du Québec (INS Québec), headquartered at its new complex in the heart of Montréal’s Olympic Park. This blend of world class athletes, facilities and organizations in the city confirms Montréal’s position as an Olympic hub and a leading sports-oriented metropolis.
Each year we add to our narrative. From artistic gymnastics to tennis events to elite triathlons, the city welcomes a diverse range of competition and competitors. Montrealers show up to welcome visitors. And they show up to cheer.