The B.C. government has introduced new regulations that give clarity and confidence to the combat sport sector to allow amateur events to go forward, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes announced today.

Regulation of amateur combat sport events was required due to recent changes to the Criminal Code of Canada that have had a number of effects:

• Requires provinces to designate amateur combat sport events as either needing or not needing regulation. The B.C. government now will be regulating mixed martial arts, kickboxing, pankration and Muay Thai events. These sports' events now will need permission from the B.C. Athletic Commissioner (BCAC).

• Allows provincial governments to exempt amateur combat sports from regulation if they are on the International Olympic or Paralympic Committee lists. The B.C. government is exempting these sports (boxing, wrestling, tae kwon do and judo) at this time.

• Allows provincial governments to exempt non-Olympic and non-Paralympic combat sports from oversight. The B.C. government will not require event regulation for the sports of wushu, karate, kung fu, grappling and jiu jitsu.

While sanctioning processes are still being developed, the BCAC expects that no amateur event will be negatively affected by the changes to the Criminal Code.

Quote:

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"Judging from the volume of correspondence we received from the sector, I know how passionate organizations are about promoting amateur combat sport. I want to thank them for their patience while government took the time needed to make the right decision on regulations."

Learn more:

BC Athletic Commissioner: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/bcathleticcommission/

Contact:

Communications
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 387-4089