Sports in Hamilton is an important part of the city's history and culture. In 1930, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada was the site of the very first Commonwealth Games, then known as the British Empire Games. The Games came to Hamilton as a result of the efforts of Melville Marks Robinson, and were Canada's first major international athletic event, and bid unsuccessfully for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, losing out to New Delhi in India. In 2009, it was announced that Toronto will host the 2015 Pan Am Games and the city of Hamilton will be co-hosting the Games with Toronto. The city attempted to become Canada's host city for the 1976 Summer Olympics, placing third behind Toronto and winner Montreal. Hamilton also previously attempted to host the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the 1983 Pan American Games.
The Around the Bay Road Race circumnavigates Hamilton Harbour or Burlington Bay. Although it is not a proper marathon, it is the longest continuously held long distance foot race in North America, held in Hamilton since 1894, 3-years before the Boston Marathon. The local newspaper, Hamilton Spectator has also hosted the amateur Spectator Indoor Games. Hamilton has also produced a number of prominent runners over the years. Some of these include, Robert Kerr, (1882–1963), was an Irish-Canadian sprinter. He won the gold medal in the 200 metres and the bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 1908 Summer Olympics, Ray Lewis, (1910–2003), Track & Field, first Canadian-born Black Olympic medallist and William Sherring, (1878–1964), was a Canadian athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1906 Summer Olympics.
Other noteworthy Olympians, Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games participants from Hamilton include; Lisa Buscombe, Archer, won the women's World Field archery Championship title in 1984 and in 1985 won the World Games Field Archery Title. Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1999 coached silver Canadian medallist in Men's Archery at the Pan Am Games; Toller Cranston, (1949–2015 ), Canadian Figure skater- Bronze medal 1976 Winter Games; Bryce Davison, (1986– ), Canadian figure skater, competes in the pairs event with Jessica Dubé. Member of the Hamilton Skating Club; Ray Lazdins, (1964– ), a retired discus thrower from Canada, who represented his native country twice at the Summer Olympics; Irene MacDonald, (1931–2002), Diving, she reigned as Canada's champion diver from 1951 to 1961. She won medals at the 1954 and 1958 Commonwealth Games and in 1956 she won Canada's first Olympic diving medal, a bronze; Joanne Malar, (1975– ), Former freestyle and medley swimmer, who competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics; Pat Messner, (1954– ), Water skiing, 1972 Summer Olympics Bronze medal winner; Linda Thom, (1943– ), Woman's shooting (25m Pistol) Gold at 1984 Summer Olympics; and Tonya Verbeek, silver medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's wrestling in the 55 kg category – Canada's first woman to medal at the Olympics in wrestling. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won Canada's third medal overall, and third Canadian medal ever in women's wrestling,CBC Television, Olympic Late Night, 16 August 2008 by winning a bronze in the 55kg class. In the year 2000 Hamilton was the first city in the western hemisphere to ever host the International Children's Games. Over 2500 athletes from 35 countries and 5 continents participated in the largest sporting and cultural celebration in games history. The games opened on 1 July, Canada Birthday hosting a large cultural festival parade and opening ceremonies broadcast across Canada. The games were considered Canada's premier millennium event and the event left an international legacy where as now over 100 countries and almost a thousand cities worldwide have participated in this international sporting event recognized by the IOC. Hamilton successfully hosted the World Cycling Championships in 2003. It was only the fourth time the World Cycling Championships was staged in North America, and the second time ever in Canada (Montreal 1974.) Igor Astarloa of Spain was the winner.
The Hamilton Golf and Country Club has hosted the Canadian Open golf championship four times, most recently in 2003 when Bob Tway won and again in 2006 with Jim Furyk the winner. The traditional course layout, designed by famed course architect Harry Colt, proved very popular with touring pros. Florence Harvey, (1878–1968), Hamilton golfer, was the Ontario Ladies Amateur Champion 1904, 1906, 1913, and 1914 and the Canadian Ladies Champion in 1903 and 1904. She founded and served on the executive of the Canadian Ladies Golf Association and is a member of Canada's Golf Hall of Fame.
Hamilton has hosted the Brier, the Canadian men's curling championship, a total of 3 times, in 1949, 1991 and the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier.
Hamilton is twinned with Flint, Michigan, and its amateur athletes compete in the CANUSA Games, held alternatively there and here since 1958. Flint and Hamilton hold the distinction of having the oldest continuous sister-city relationship between a U.S. and Canadian city, since 1957. Hamilton hosted the games' 50th-anniversary in 2007. Special events included the 30th annual golf tournament at King's Forest. The tournament was dedicated to the memory of well-known Hamilton broadcaster and longtime CANUSA volunteer Bill Sturrup.
Sports venues
Two new sports venues opened up in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007–08, both of which are on the McMaster University grounds. The first is the $23-million Ron Joyce Stadium, and the second is the $30-million David Braley Athletic Centre.
The 6,000-seat Ronald V. Joyce Stadium is primarily a football stadium with officials at McMaster University suggesting it may be the best soccer venue in the Golden Horseshoe after Toronto's BMO Field, and it has taken steps to try to position the stadium for extensive soccer use. Extensive renovations were also done to the gym at the Ivor Wynne Centre. Total cost of the upgrades was $54-million. University officials have also noted that previous successful Pan Am and Commonwealth Games in Winnipeg, Victoria and Edmonton have utilized university facilities. Mac officials are also aiming to make the university one of the athlete villages.
Innovations Ron Foxcroft is the owner of Fox 40 International who make 40,000 whistles/ day. Used by search and rescue professionals in major catastrophes like the San Francisco earthquake and Oklahoma City bombing, and collapse of the World Trade Center. Also used by Major League sports officials around the world like the NHL, NBA, NFL including the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics.
Kenesky Sports on Barton & Wellington Streets is the site where Emil Kenesky (Emil "Pops" Kenesky) invented the hockey goalie pads in 1917. His new pads were cricket pads, modified, and widened to approximately 12 inches. The new pads caught on extremely quickly, and this style of pad was used by a majority of pro goalies right on to the 1970s. Hockey Hall of Famers like Johnny Bower, Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuk having worn them. Kenesky's company became the best-known manufacturer of hockey equipment in Canada. Kenesky Sports also has a hockey school for goalies of all-ages. Alumni include NHL netminders Ray Emery and Dwayne Roloson.
Charlie O'Brien, a former major league baseball catcher, after getting smashed in his mask by two consecutive foul-tip balls in a game, O'Brien had the idea for a new catcher's mask (a helmet, actually) while he was watching a hockey game. He worked with Van Velden Mask Inc., of Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to develop his idea. The new design, called the All-Star MVP, was approved in 1996 by Major League Baseball. The company is a maker of hockey goalie masks and equipment and was named after the owner of the company, Gerry Van Velden.
Professional Sports Teams + Professional teams Club League Venue Championships Established Hamilton Tiger-Cats Canadian Football League Hamilton Stadium 8 (15 in total) 1950 (older in 1869) Forge FC Canadian Premier League Hamilton Stadium 4 (7 in total) 2017 Hamilton Hammers American Hockey League TD Coliseum 0 2026 Toronto Rock National Lacrosse League TD Coliseum 6 (16 in total) 1998 PWHL Hamilton Professional Women's Hockey League TD Coliseum 0 2026
Amateur, junior, professional, and semi-professional teams + Other professional teams Club League Venue Established Championships Hammer City Roller Derby Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Coronation Arena 0 None Stoney Creek Sabres Ontario Women’s Hockey Association Gateway Ice Centre 0 None Hamilton Cardinals Canadian Baseball League Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium 1 WBSC Americas Hamilton HurricanesCanadian Junior Football League Hamilton Stadium 0 None Hamilton Bengals Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League Dave Andreychuk Arena None Chantilly Forever FC United Premier Soccer League Sackville Memorial Park Stadium 6 CONCACAF Chantilly Forever BC Hamilton Youth Basketball / Local Development House Leagues R.A. Riddell School 2 None Hamilton City SC Canadian Soccer League Heritage Field 0 Non-FIFA Hamilton Croatia Hamilton & District Premier Soccer League's Elite Division Croatian Sports and Community Centre of Hamilton 1 None Hamilton Hornets R.F.C. Niagara Rugby Union Mohawk Sports Park 0 None Hamilton Kilty B's Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena 0 None Hamilton Steelhawks Allan Cup Hockey Andreychuk Mountain Arena 0 None Hamilton United Premier Soccer Leagues Canada Ron Joyce Stadium 0 Canadian Championship Hamilton Wildcats AFL Canada Mohawk Sports Park 0 None Stoney Creek Camels R.F.C. Niagara Rugby Union Saltfleet District High School 1 None Stoney Creek Generals Allan Cup Hockey Gateway Ice Centre 2 None Sigma FC Premier Soccer Leagues Canada Paramount Fine Foods Centre/Hamilton Stadium 0 CONCACAF CS Mont-Royal Outremont Premier Soccer Leagues Canada REC Mont-Royal 0 Canadian Championship
Hamilton Select
Hamilton Select is a fast pitch league containing teams from across the city. It is a league for the ages of 19 and under. It is a relatively unknown league to the public, but is highly scouted. It is a very competitive league that has each park trying to be regarded as Hamilton's finest team. Hamilton select consists of 28 teams in the Hamilton region but East Hamilton is where the top teams are found. The league originated in 1997. The team to win earns an entry into Regionals to play against Niagara's, Ottawa's, and Toronto's top teams. There has only been one team to win Regionals representing Hamilton: Gage Park 1999. Over the past 12 years there have only been 6 different teams to represent Hamilton: Gage Park (5), Rosedale (3), Scott Park (2), Roxborough (1), and Berrisfield (1).
Canadian football
Hamilton is also home to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame museum. The museum hosts an annual induction event in a week-long celebration that includes school visits, a golf tournament, a formal induction dinner and concludes with the Hall of Fame game involving the local CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium.