Victoria’s significant sporting events program passes 1,000 events

The Victorian Government’s Significant Sporting Events Program (SSEP) has hit a massive milestone with the program now bringing more than 1,000 sporting events to the state since 2010.

Commended the milestone of 1,052 sporting events being secured across the state - including the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival in 2025 and 2026, the Australian Junior Open squash tournament secured until 2027 - Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos stated “this program is helping us secure sporting events right across the state - backing local towns, businesses and jobs.

“This flow on effects of these events are huge - they bring people to regional towns and keep local hotels, café and shops buzzing.”

The program has also establishing other popular annual sporting events across the state including the Melbourne and Victorian Open wheelchair tennis events, the transformed Maurie Plant Meet, and annual South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL games being played in Gippsland since 2022.

The Program has six funding rounds each year and has secured sport in all corners of the state - with more than half of all SSEP events being held in regional Victoria.

The sporting events drive visitation, create jobs and keep local hospitality venues, hotels and shopping strips buzzing, and also give local athletes the chance to be part of sporting events near where they live.

Applications are currently open with grants of up to $150,000 up for grabs, so the program can help bring even more sporting events to Victoria.

Click here for more information about the Significant Sporting Events Program. sport.vic.gov.au/funding/significant-sporting-events-program

Image: Lucie Stewart wins at the 2024 Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival. Credit: Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival.