Understanding Designations
viaSport works in collaboration with many amateur sport organizations and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, to elevate, strengthen and grow amateur sport. viaSport has established this framework to promote accountability, transparency and to positively impact the quality of amateur sport in BC.
The viaSport Designation Program
To strengthen the quality of amateur sport and to steward the Government’s investment in it, a framework was established to identify the minimum quality standards required for eligibility in the viaSport Designation Program.
The viaSport Designation Program has three categories that set specific minimum standards for each level depending on the size and reach of the sport as well as the maturity of the organization. Qualifying for a viaSport designation holds each sport organization and their board of directors accountable to these standards.
These standards include: upholding the BC Societies Act as a non-profit entity, achieving specific targets for sport participation reach and inclusivity, ensuring Board and operational policies and practices are in place, and implementing development programs for coaches and officials as well as high-performance athletes.
viaSport Designations in BC
There are three viaSport designation categories: Accredited, Recognized, and Affiliated. Each category aligns to specific minimum standards that consider size and reach of the sport, as well as the maturity of the organization.
To receive a designation and the use of a viaSport logo mean an organization is reputable, trustworthy, and committed to upholding the program standards.
Not all sport organizations apply, meet, nor receive, a Designation. Once a Designation is provided, organizations are required to sign an annual agreement accepting their responsibility to uphold the standards.
viaSport ensure compliance through annual reporting and review, as well as through a more comprehensive evaluation conducted every three years. The Designation Program Policy defines the program standards, statuses and conditions related to funding and compliance.
A Provincial or Disability Sport Organization that is the authoritative body for a sport as specified by their respective National Sport Organization, sports or group-of-sport disciplines in BC, operating in five or more BC Games Zones, responsible for the oversight, growth and development of the sport.
A Provincial or Disability Sport Organization that is the authoritative body for a sport as specified by their respective National Sport Organization, operating in three or more BC Games Zones, responsible for the oversight, growth and development of the sport.
A sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and the Provincial or Disability Sport Organization specified as the authoritative body by their respective National Sport Organization, that is uniquely limited by region, infrastructure or sport-specific constraint to expand sport opportunities, that another organization cannot fulfill.
