Vancouver

==Sports and recreation==
{{Main|Sports in Vancouver}}
[[File:3rd Beach, Vancouver, BC - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Third Beach]] is one of many beaches located in Vancouver. Given the city's proximity to the ocean and mountains, the area is a popular destination for outdoor recreation.]]
The city's mild climate and proximity to the ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes make the area a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Vancouver has over {{cvt|1298|ha|acre}} of parks, of which [[Stanley Park]], at {{cvt|404|ha|acre}}, is the largest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/aboutus/index.htm |title=About the Park Board |publisher=Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201142621/http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/aboutus/index.htm |archive-date=December 1, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The city has several large beaches, many adjacent to one another, extending from the shoreline of Stanley Park around False Creek to the south side of English Bay, from Kitsilano to the [[University Endowment Lands]], (which also has beaches that are not part of the city proper). The {{cvt|18|km}} of beaches include Second and Third Beaches in Stanley Park, English Bay (First Beach), Sunset, [[Kitsilano Beach]], Jericho, Locarno, [[Spanish Banks]], Spanish Banks Extension, Spanish Banks West, and [[Wreck Beach]]. There is also a freshwater beach at Trout Lake in [[John Hendry Park]]. The coastline provides for many types of water sports, and the city is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vancouver.ca/parks/rec/beaches/index.htm |title=Recreation: Beaches |publisher=Vancouver Park Board |year=2009 |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202065448/http://vancouver.ca/parks/rec/beaches/index.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Within a 20- to 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver are the [[North Shore Mountains]], with three ski areas: [[Cypress Mountain Ski Area|Cypress Mountain]], [[Grouse Mountain]], and [[Mount Seymour]]. [[Mountain biking|Mountain bikers]] have created world-renowned trails across the North Shore. The [[Capilano River]], Lynn Creek and Seymour River, also on the North Shore, provide opportunities to [[whitewater]] enthusiasts during periods of rain and spring melt. However, the canyons of those rivers are more utilized for hiking and swimming than whitewater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrovancouver.org/SERVICES/PARKS_LSCR/REGIONALPARKS/Pages/CapilanoRiver.aspx |title=Capilano River |publisher=Metro Vancouver |year=2009 |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203232456/http://www.metrovancouver.org/SERVICES/PARKS_LSCR/REGIONALPARKS/Pages/CapilanoRiver.aspx |archive-date=February 3, 2010}}</ref>

Running races include the [[Vancouver Sun Run]] (a {{cvt|10|km|adj=mid}} race) every April; the [[Vancouver Marathon]], held every May; and the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon held every June. The [[Grouse Mountain|Grouse Grind]] is a {{cvt|2.9|km|mi|adj=on}} climb up Grouse Mountain, open throughout the summer and fall months, including the annual Grouse Grind Mountain Run. Hiking trails include the [[Baden-Powell Trail]], an arduous {{cvt|42|km|mi|-long|adj=mid}} hike from [[West Vancouver]]'s [[Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver|Horseshoe Bay]] to [[Deep Cove, North Vancouver|Deep Cove]] in the [[North Vancouver (district municipality)|District of North Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.car-free.ca/bc-car-free/hiking/baden-powell-centennial-trail.html |title=Baden-Powell Centennial Trail |first=Brian |last=Grover |publisher=BC Car-Free |year=2009 |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402110037/http://www.car-free.ca/bc-car-free/hiking/baden-powell-centennial-trail.html |archive-date=April 2, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:BC Place Stadium - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|[[BC Place]] is a multi-purpose stadium that is home to the [[BC Lions]] of the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] and the [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] of [[Major League Soccer|MLS]].]]
Vancouver is also home to notable [[Cycle sport|cycling races]]. During most summers since 1973, the [[Gastown Grand Prix|Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix]] has been held on the cobblestone streets of [[Gastown]]. This race and the UBC Grand Prix are part of BC Superweek, an annual series of professional cycling races in Metro Vancouver.

The [[British Columbia Derby]] is a nine-furlong horse race held at the Hastings Racecourse in the third week of September.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hastingsracecourse.com/ |title=Hastings Racecourse |access-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723031640/https://www.hastingsracecourse.com/ |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, Metro Vancouver hosted the [[World Police and Fire Games]]. [[Swangard Stadium]], in the neighbouring city of [[Burnaby]], hosted games for the [[2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]].<ref name="V2010" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2610 |title=Canada's World Cup team opens camp in Vancouver |publisher=[[Canadian Soccer Association]] |date=January 17, 2007 |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605031124/http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2610 |archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>

Vancouver, along with Whistler and Richmond, was the host city for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] and the [[2010 Winter Paralympics]]. On June 12, 2010, it played host to [[UFC 115|Ultimate Fighting Championship 115]] (UFC 115), which was the fourth [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] event to be held in Canada (and the first outside [[Montreal]]).

In 2011, Vancouver hosted the [[Grey Cup]], the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) championship game, which is awarded every year to a different city that has a CFL team. The [[BC Titans]] of the [[International Basketball League]] played their inaugural season in 2009, with home games at the [[Langley Events Centre|Langley Event Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bctitans.ca/index.php/about/presidents-message |title=Welcome from the President |last=Mara |first=Jonathan |publisher=Vancouver Titans |access-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301041038/http://www.bctitans.ca/index.php/about/presidents-message |archive-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> Vancouver is a centre for the fast-growing sport of [[Ultimate (sport)|ultimate]]. During the summer of 2008 Vancouver hosted the World Ultimate Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=0a120960-f84f-4be8-a965-320e1ae147d1 |title=World Ultimate Championships come to Vancouver |access-date=December 5, 2009 |first=Jenny |last=Lee |date=July 30, 2008 |work=Vancouver Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101184300/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=0a120960-f84f-4be8-a965-320e1ae147d1 |archive-date=January 1, 2011}}</ref>

The [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) expanded into Vancouver in 1995 with the establishment of the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]]. They played their games at [[Rogers Arena]]. After six years in Vancouver, the team relocated to [[Memphis, Tennessee]] in 2001.
[[File:Towelpower.jpg|thumb|The [[Vancouver Canucks]] are an [[National Hockey League|NHL]] team who play their home games in [[Rogers Arena]].]]
In 2015, Vancouver was one of six venues for the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup]] and hosted the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final|Final game]] between the United States and Japan. Vancouver is one of two Canadian cities hosting matches during the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=J. J. |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Game On: Vancouver crowned as 2026 FIFA World Cup host city |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/international-soccer/game-on-vancouver-crowned-as-2026-fifa-world-cup-host-city |work=The Province |access-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616213928/https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/international-soccer/game-on-vancouver-crowned-as-2026-fifa-world-cup-host-city |url-status=live }}</ref>

Vancouver is Canada's fittest major city, with an obesity rate of only 17.4%, compared to the national average of 24.8%. It is only surpassed by [[Kelowna|Kelowna, British Columbia]] with a rate of 17% and followed by [[Victoria, British Columbia]] at 19.6%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelowna, Vancouver show lowest obesity levels: Stats Canada - BC {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1362940/kelowna-vancouver-show-lowest-obesity-levels-stats-canada/ |access-date=November 5, 2022 |website=Global News |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105213648/https://globalnews.ca/news/1362940/kelowna-vancouver-show-lowest-obesity-levels-stats-canada/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, the province of British Columbia has the [[Obesity in Canada|lowest obesity rate in Canada]], followed by Quebec at 2nd and Ontario at 3rd.

===Current professional teams===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+<!-- sort by establishment -->
|-
! scope="col"|Professional team
! scope="col"|League
! scope="col"|Sport
! scope="col"|Venue
! scope="col"|Established
! scope="col"|Championships
|-
| [[BC Lions]]
| [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL)
| [[Canadian football|Football]]
| [[BC Place]]
| 1954
| 6
|-
| [[Vancouver Canucks]]
| [[National Hockey League]] (NHL)
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Rogers Arena]]
| 1970<br />(1945: [[Pacific Coast Hockey League|PCHL]])
| 0 (6 in previous leagues)
|-
| [[Vancouver Canadians]]
| [[Northwest League]]<br />(NWL)
| [[Baseball]]
| [[Nat Bailey Stadium]]
| 2000
| 4
|-
|[[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
|[[Major League Soccer]] (MLS)
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|[[BC Place]]
| 2009<br />(1974: [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]])
| 0 (7 in previous leagues)
|-
|[[BC Bears]]
|[[Canadian Rugby Championship]] (CRC)
|[[Rugby Union]]
|[[Thunderbird Stadium]]
| 2009
| 2
|-
| [[Vancouver Warriors]]
| [[National Lacrosse League]] (NLL)
| [[Box Lacrosse]]
| [[Rogers Arena]]
| 2014
| 0 (1 as the [[Washington Stealth]])
|-
| [[Vancouver Titans]]
| [[Overwatch League]]
| [[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]
| [[Blizzard Arena]]
| 2018
| 1 (Stage 1 Champions)
|}
{{Further|List of professional sports teams in British Columbia}}