FAQs

Durham Region will be hosting the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games beginning Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 5, 2023. The Games will take place at multiple locations across the region. A full list of venues will be posted on the Games website.

The 2023 Ontario Parasport Games will feature 550 participants (athletes, coaches and officials), with most athletes’ ages being under 35 years old.

Durham Region was awarded the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport through a competitive bid process.

Sports represented in the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games are determined by a sport selection process conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport with the recognized Provincial Sport Organizations.

Participants are selected by each sport’s respective Provincial Sport Organization through a qualification process. Please contact your sport’s Provincial Sport Organization for more information.

Registration for the Games opens approximately three months in advance of the Games and is completed under the direction of each sport’s Provincial Sport Organization. Please contact your sport’s Provincial Sport Organization for more information.

A registration fee is charged by the Host to the Provincial Sport Organization for each athlete attending the Games. Participation fees may vary by sport at the discretion of the Provincial Sport Organization if there are additional costs required to participate in the Games such as uniforms, training etc. Please consult with your Provincial Sport Organization for more information.

Registration fees are paid through each sport’s Provincial Sport Organization. Please consult your sport’s Provincial Sport Organization for more information regarding registration fees.

All participants will be housed in accommodations provided by the Games. Participants will have their own bed but will be sharing a room with other participants of the same participant type (e.g. athletes with athletes, coaches with coaches), sport and gender.

Participant accommodations will be communicated to you by your Provincial Sport Organization. For the safety of all participants, accommodation locations of each sport are not publicly posted.

Each room will have bed linens, pillow, blanket, towel, face cloth, soap and drinking cup.

Participants must bring any items necessary to compete in your sport (e.g., uniforms, sport equipment, etc.) and their health card. Each participant is responsible for all their belongings at the sport venues and accommodations. Any valuables should always be kept secured.

Please consult with your PSO for specific items you may be required to bring and what arrangements, if any, have been made for storage. (e.g., sport equipment, bags etc.)

All participants will receive three meals a day starting with dinner on the night of the Opening Ceremony/registration to breakfast of the last day of competition for their sport. Additional meals may be offered to participants at the direction of the Provincial Sport Organization and Games organizers.

Any additional food outside of the three meals a day is the responsibility of the participant. If participants choose to bring snacks, please be aware that access to refrigerators may be limited or not available in the accommodations. Non-perishable nut free snacks would be encouraged.

All food allergy/dietary restriction information is collected through the registration process. Food services will use this information to plan meals for all participants. During meal periods, participants should notify Games representative(s) onsite of specific allergies/dietary restrictions.

No, for the safety of all participants, friends and family must remain out of the Games accommodations during the Event. Only accredited individuals are permitted in accommodations.

All participants will be responsible for organizing their own travel to the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games. Participants who are arriving by train or airplane must have travel pre-approved through their Provincial Sport Organization.

Games organizers will arrange for transportation for participants with pre-approved travel to and from airport or train stations to the Games accommodations.

Please contact your sport’s Provincial Sport Organization for more information regarding where and when to arrive at the 2023 Ontario Parasport Games.

During the Games participants will be transported to and from their venue, accommodations and special events.

Competition schedules are set by the Provincial Sport Organizations and will be posted as they are available.

An online registration system for volunteers will be made available. The Games will review all volunteer registrations and begin offering positions closer to the Games.

Through your registration form you will be able to indicate sports you are interested in volunteering with, skills you may be able to offer and your availability. Based on the information you provide while registering, the Games will do their best to offer you a position of interest and that best suits your skill set.

Training will be provided to all volunteers prior to the Games and just-in-time on site.

No. However, volunteer registration may close without notice once all volunteer positions have been filled.

There is no minimum, however in most cases preference will be given to volunteers who can commit the most amount of hours/days.

All volunteers working a shift longer than four hours will be entitled to a meal.

Yes, you can identify your special requests through the registration form. A member of the Games will be in contact if further information is required in order to place you in a volunteer position.

Volunteer positions are available for 14 years of age and older. You must be 14 years of age or older as of January 15, 2023 to volunteer for the Parasport Games.

Volunteers who are 18 years of age and older will be required to have an updated Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).

Volunteers will be selected on a rolling basis. A member of the Games will contact you with more information regarding your role once you have been selected.

Yes, all volunteers are required to attend one pre-Games volunteer training session. Multiple training session times will be offered and will be communicated to you closer to the Games. Other options may be provided to volunteers who are not local.

If you have any questions email volunteers@durhamregion2023.ca.

No, all volunteers are responsible for their own expenses.

Yes, forms for completed hours can be signed by your supervisor on the last day of the Games.

Please contact volunteers@durhamregion2023.ca to inform the Games of your change in availability.