Significant Sporting Events Program – Australia

Deadline: 30-Jun-23

The Significant Sporting Events Program is now open to help sporting, community and event organisations to deliver sporting events in Victoria.

The fund supports events that are national or international in focus, or have regional significance and are recognised by a relevant sporting body.

Why is the Victorian Government funding these grants?

• Events funded through the Significant Sporting Events Program deliver many social, health, economic and liveability benefits for Victorians. They showcase the best of sport in the own backyard; enable Victorian athletes to compete on home soil; provide inspiration for fans to emulate their heroes and encourage them to get active and healthy through sport.
• The events also provide an opportunity to showcase Victoria’s world-class sports facilities, talent and regions to even more people around the world. These events support Victoria’s reputation as the sporting capital, grow the visitor economy, build on Victoria’s trade and investment opportunities, drive participation, build social capital and further Victoria’s standing as a multicultural, inclusive and liveable state.
• The Significant Sporting Events Program reflects and supports the Victorian strategic framework for sport and recreation, Active Victoria, which outlines the government’s plan to strengthen the sport and recreation sector, and contribute to:
  • healthier Victorians
  • economic growth and jobs
  • community cohesion
  • liveability.

Funding Information

• Grant Type: Event Assistance Grants
  • Grant Description: Available to event organisers seeking funding support to assist with general operational costs associated with hosting events.
  • Maximum grant value: $20,000
• Grant Type: Event Development Grants
  • Grant Description: Available to develop or expand events, or for events with high operational costs (typically more than $200,000).
  • Maximum grant value: $150,000
• Grant Type: Strategic Event Planning Grants
  • Grant Description: Available to State and National Sporting bodies to assist with the development of sport strategic event plans that seek to identify future events that could be hosted in Victoria, and the requirements for doing so.
  • Maximum grant value: $20,000
• Higher grant amounts may be available and will be considered on a case by case basis by Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Eligible Activities

• The events may include, but are not limited to:
  • international or national open/youth/masters events
  • one-off international or national sporting matches
  • sports conferences / sports forums.
• Event organisers should demonstrate the use of the principles of Universal Design when developing an event and selecting a venue for their event to enable as many people as possible to participate in or attend the event.
• Applications including multi-year events are acceptable.
• Funding is available for a limited number of national and international sport conferences held in Victoria.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organisations are eligible for funding:
  • national sporting organisations
  • state sporting associations
  • regional sports assemblies
  • local government authorities
  • sport conference organisers
  • local sporting clubs and associations
  • private event organisations
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • venues.
• Applicants are required to submit their applications at least six months prior to the event.
• Please note – eligibility is subject to additional supporting documentation.
• In addition, to be eligible for funding applicants must:
  • be an incorporated body, cooperative or association (including business associations)
  • possess an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be financially solvent
  • have satisfactorily met reporting requirements on any grants received from the Victorian Government.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The Significant Sporting Events Program will not fund:
  • Event related
    • appearance fees
    • event bids
    • purchase of assets (including buildings and vehicles)
    • travel by teams or individuals to events
    • recurrent operating costs, for example rent and utility costs
    • purchase of land (any underlying asset created by a funded activity is to be owned by the Federal, state or local governments or a non-profit community organisation)
    • routine or ongoing maintenance activities
    • events that have received funding through the Victorian Government’s Major Events Fund
    • events staged outside of Victoria
    • events that will commence less than six months after an application is received (subject to the discretion of Sport and Recreation Victoria).
  • Financial Management
    • organisations that have failed to acquit previous funding support provided by Sport and Recreation Victoria or another state government department.
  • Program Alignment
    • events that do not align with the objectives of the program
    • events that do not strongly address the assessment criteria.

For more information, visit State Government of Victoria.