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Hamilton Spectator
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver's Dragon Boat Festival pushed out by FIFA World Cup
VANCOUVER - Organizers of the annual Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver say the event will be cancelled next year to make way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dominic Lai, the operations director with Dragon Boat BC, says the city declined to provide permits for 2026 edition of the festival. Lai says they have been told Vancouver's host city agreement for World Cup prohibits cultural and sporting events during a certain time frame and also restricts events within a certain radius of BC Place Stadium. The dragon boat festival usually takes place in late June, with last year's event drawing 200 teams from nine countries. He says the festival takes place in the restricted area, about 20 metres from the stadium that's set to host seven games during the World Cup next in June. A statement from Dragon Boat BC says the group had presented the city and the provincial government with different options for locations and time frames for its festival over the last few years, but it had not been successful in finding a solution. 'At this time, there is no confirmed support from the city and the province for the alternate scenarios we have presented,' it says. 'Without clear information and support, non-profit organizations like Dragon Boat BC will have to navigate the challenging operational and financial impacts of the host city agreement on their own.' The City of Vancouver directed a request for comment to the B.C. government. A statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says it was aware that next year's dragon boat festival has been cancelled. It says the 2026 FIFA World Cup was announced in 2022, and many event organizers have used the 'lead time' to find alternative dates and locations. Lai says it's not as simple as changing the date, as the dragon boat festival depends on water conditions, the availability of docks and when competitors can attend. He likened the 2026 FIFA World Cup to 'the second pandemic' that is delivering a 'substantial' financial blow to his organization. Lai says hosting the FIFA World Cup is meant to benefit the entire community. 'The legacy of FIFA needs to be one where the community comes out stronger than before,' he says. 'That's really important to make sure that … all these community organizations are in a good place to benefit from these impacts after FIFA is gone.' The city and the B.C. government have said hosting seven matches is estimated to generate more than $1 billion in visitor spending and create some 18,000 jobs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. 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 .
Winnipeg Free Press
02-08-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver's Dragon Boat Festival pushed out by FIFA World Cup
VANCOUVER – Organizers of the annual Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver say the event will be cancelled next year to make way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dominic Lai, the operations director with Dragon Boat BC, says the city declined to provide permits for 2026 edition of the festival. Lai says they have been told Vancouver's host city agreement for World Cup prohibits cultural and sporting events during a certain time frame and also restricts events within a certain radius of BC Place Stadium. The dragon boat festival usually takes place in late June, with last year's event drawing 200 teams from nine countries. He says the festival takes place in the restricted area, about 20 metres from the stadium that's set to host seven games during the World Cup next in June. A statement from Dragon Boat BC says the group had presented the city and the provincial government with different options for locations and time frames for its festival over the last few years, but it had not been successful in finding a solution. 'At this time, there is no confirmed support from the city and the province for the alternate scenarios we have presented,' it says. 'Without clear information and support, non-profit organizations like Dragon Boat BC will have to navigate the challenging operational and financial impacts of the host city agreement on their own.' The City of Vancouver directed a request for comment to the B.C. government. A statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says it was aware that next year's dragon boat festival has been cancelled. It says the 2026 FIFA World Cup was announced in 2022, and many event organizers have used the 'lead time' to find alternative dates and locations. Lai says it's not as simple as changing the date, as the dragon boat festival depends on water conditions, the availability of docks and when competitors can attend. He likened the 2026 FIFA World Cup to 'the second pandemic' that is delivering a 'substantial' financial blow to his organization. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Lai says hosting the FIFA World Cup is meant to benefit the entire community. 'The legacy of FIFA needs to be one where the community comes out stronger than before,' he says. 'That's really important to make sure that … all these community organizations are in a good place to benefit from these impacts after FIFA is gone.' The city and the B.C. government have said hosting seven matches is estimated to generate more than $1 billion in visitor spending and create some 18,000 jobs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
The National
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Lisa Nandy aide 'drafted note saying BBC is institutionally antisemitic'
Nandy is due to meet with Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely at an unconfirmed date and was advised by a policy officer to make the claim against the BBC. But a source at the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport told The National that this was dropped and the Culture Secretary would not brand the BBC 'antisemitic' at her meeting with the ambassador. They said: 'It was an initial draft.' READ MORE: How the UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel It comes after independent journalist Matt Kennard revealed that briefing notes for the meeting had also advised the Culture Secretary to tell Hotovely that 'one mistake is an editing error but if you have multiple mistakes you need to look at the leadership'. The BBC found itself under fire from the upper echelons of the UK Government after broadcasting punk band Bob Vylan (below) leading at chant at Glastonbury which called for 'death to the [Israeli Defence Forces]'. (Image: Yui Mok) Kennard also reported that Nandy was also advised to tell the Israeli ambassador that 'Glastonbury continues to host acts with vile and inflammatory views' and more investigation was needed. The Bob Vylan chant was denounced as 'antisemitic' by Nandy, who last week told MPs: 'There is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in this house and everybody in our country, and antisemitism, which is not and never will be. 'When the rights and safety of people and communities are at risk and when our national broadcaster fails to uphold its own standards, we will intervene.' READ MORE: Tony Blair's staff took part in 'Gaza Riviera' project, reports say She has discussed the matter with BBC director-general Tim Davie and demanded an explanation as to why the segment was broadcast. Nandy said last week: 'When you have one editorial failure, it's something that must be gripped. When you have several, it becomes a problem of leadership.' Bob Vylan's comments were reported to the police, with Avon and Somerset Police confirming footage would be "assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed". The band had their US visas revoked ahead of a tour of the country and the BBC later announced it would no longer broadcast "high risk" live performances.
Calgary Herald
11-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
How much will the World Cup cost Vancouver? We still don't know, one year out
Article content The countdown is on for both the World Cup, and the release of the final financial projections of just how much it will cost. Article content Wednesday afternoon at Terry Fox Plaza outside of B.C. Place, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani and a host of other dignitaries took part in the unveiling of a giant digital clock that is ticking down to the start of the 2026 World Cup. An energetic, upbeat event where local youth teams playing a seven-a-side game — while being coached by Canada soccer veterans Tosaint Ricketts and Christine Sinclair — set what the organizers hoped was an energetic and positive tone. Article content Article content Article content But the clock is also ticking on the region's patience to find out just how much taxpayers will be paying to host the massive sporting event, one that is on par with the Olympic Games in terms of global reach and prestige. Mayor Sim called it the 'equivalent of 30 to 40 Super Bowls.' Article content The cost of the event has doubled from the initial numbers; the last report had the price tag for the province between $483 million and $581 million, with the City of Vancouver expected to pay at least $230M. Article content 'We'll have a full costing of where we're at in terms of cost, in terms of revenue, closer to the end of June, and we'll share it publicly at that point. We're just finishing up a couple of the accounting things,' said Spencer Chandra Herbert, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. Article content Article content Toronto has been more forthcoming with their numbers, saying it will fall $40M short in its already ballooning $380M budget for their portion of the event. Vancouver has yet to address the updated financials publicly. Article content Article content 'Look, we're bound by confidentiality agreements,' said Mayor Sim. 'That's just part of the process. What I can tell you is, we've had great lenses on it. This is actually a great event where the city, the residents of the City of Vancouver and the region and the province and the country will benefit. Article content Article content 'Let's put this in perspective. There are cities around the planet that would absolutely love this opportunity. We have this opportunity in the City of Vancouver. We're making sure it's held from a fiscally responsible perspective. And we're super excited to have this opportunity.' Article content Vancouver will host seven games of the 2026 World Cup at B.C. Place, with Toronto getting six. Canada will play two games in Vancouver, and should Les Rouges advance out of their round robin group, would potentially play in the two knockout round games at B.C. Place.
RTÉ News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
National Famine Commemoration to take place
The National Famine Commemoration will take place in Kilmallock, Co Limerick, this afternoon. It is the first time the ceremony has taken place in Limerick. More than one million people died during the famine between 1845 and 1852 and more than one million more emigrated during this time. The event will include a wreath-laying ceremony, music and prayers of remembrance in tribute to those who died in the famine. President Michael D Higgins will lead the official representation at the commemoration, alongside Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Mayor of Limerick John Moran. Music will be provided by local musicians Liam Flanagan, Sean Ó Fearghail and Ciara Flanagan, and pupils from Scoil Mocheallóg will read the poem Threnody by Flann O'Connor. Students from Coláiste Iósaef will read a letter from Dr Morgan David O'Connell to the Kilmllock Board of Guardians from 1847. In a statement ahead of the commemoration, President Higgins said that of all the challenges in the world, "responding to global hunger and the vindication of the right to food security is one that is of paramount importance". Minister O'Donovan said it was fitting that the event is being held in the grounds of Kilmallock Workhouse and next to the graveyard "where so many of our forebears who died during this time, were laid to rest in a mass grave, neighbour with neighbour". He said the Famine has shaped Ireland and its people, who he said, stand with the people of Gaza, areas of South Sudan, Haiti and Mali, who are suffering from hunger, disease and poverty today.
