British Columbians have reason to celebrate after today's announcement that the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 is coming to Vancouver, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

The Canadian Soccer Association, the sport's governing body in Canada, announced this morning that Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal, Moncton, Ottawa and Winnipeg will all be host cities for the tournament, which is the largest women's sporting event in the world.

Matches will be held at BC Place stadium in 2015. Dates for the tournament have yet to be determined.

The FIFA Women's World Cup is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to the province, surpassing the impact of the FIFA Men's U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, which held matches in both Burnaby and Victoria. That tournament saw host cities realize economic benefits of $5 million to $10 million each.

In support of the 2015 Women's World Cup, the Province is committing $2 million. The federal government is contributing $12 million countrywide.

Quotes:

Minister of Community, Sport and Culture Ida Chong:

"This is really exciting news for Vancouver and the entire province, especially considering soccer is such a popular and inclusive sport in B.C."

"It will bring the best female athletes in soccer to Vancouver as well as many thousands of visitors to our province, continuing our Olympic and Paralympic legacy. Our government is proud to support the FIFA Women's World Cup."

Quick Facts:

• The Canadian Soccer Association won the right to host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 in March 2011.

• The FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 is the largest single-sport women's championship and will host 24 teams from six federations.

• The Province also supported the recent Women's Olympic Soccer Qualifier in January 2012 with $250,000 in funding. That tournament saw Canada secure a place at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England this summer and broke attendance records for women's CONCACAF tournaments.

• The Canadian women's national soccer team won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

• The Canadian women's national soccer team will head to the Olympic Games this summer with teams from Japan, Sweden and South Africa in their pool.

• According to participation rates, soccer is the most popular and widely played sport in British Columbia.

Learn More:

FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: www.FIFA.com/Canada2015

Canadian women's national soccer team: http://www.canadasoccer.com

Contact:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677
250-208-4028 (cell)