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Race Sanctioning

  • The use of the Athletics Ontario Sanction logo on your race website and marketing materials indicates to your participants that your event successfully meets the AO Sanction Criteria and that your agree to abide by the corresponding safety standards. Upon completion of an AO Sanction Application and approval, you will receive a 2025 Sanction logo.

  • The sanction logo is valid ONLY for the year of the sanction application.

  • The cost for an Athletics Ontario Road & Trail Sanction is $75 per year (this fee is waived for Registered 2026 Athletics Ontario Race Organizations and Clubs).

  • AO Extreme Environment Guidelines 

  • Athletics Canada Race Director Guide

 

**APPLY EARLY** Sanction applications can take up to 4 weeks to process. 

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Nighttime marathon runners

ATHLETICS CANADA COURSE CERTIFICATION

  1. Check out the Athletics Canada Certified Courses List.

  2. Looking to get your race certified? Check here.

  3. AC Certification - Manuals & Forms

AIMS Road Course Measurement Workshop - Ottawa, July 18, 2026

More information here

For events that are Athletics Canada Certified. CVS/Excel spreadsheets must be submitted to results@athletics.ca for rankings purposes directly after the event.

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RACE DIRECTORS (2027)

EVENT SANCTIONING & INSURANCE

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*NEW FOR 2027 RACES*

RACE DIRECTORS REQUIRING INSURANCE FOR YOUR EVENTS

PLEASE FOLLOW THE RELEVANT STEPS BELOW

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ATHLETICS CANADA'S ANNOUNCEMENT DAY-OF-EVENT LICENSING *EFFECTIVE 2027

ATHLETICS ONTARIO INFORMATION​

FAQ

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STEP 1: Complete a  2027 Sanction Application ​

  • AO 2027 Sanctioned races must abide by the AO Sanction Criteria (updated August 2026)

  • All 2027 AO Sanctioned events and their participants are covered under the AO Insurance Policy so long as participants are either AO members or pay the required $5.00 day of event license fee for non-members.

  • You will automatically receive a 2027 AO Sanction Logo once your application has been reviewed and approved

  • AO Sanction Logos must be placed on your race registration page and/or website and are only good for the year of the application

STEP 2: Certificate of Insurance (COI) Request​​​

PLEASE NOTE

  • Please only fill out one COI request per event, unless multiple events happen at the exact venue and course.​​

  • A Sanction Application must be submitted and approved prior to approving Insurance Certificate requests.

  • Amendments to your insurance applications are time-sensitive. Please complete all applications above as early as possible. and sent to shehara@athleticsontario.ca

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STEP 3: Post Race Submissions

  • RESULTS For AC Certified Courses results must be submitted to Athletics for National Rankings Canada (results@athletics.ca) and to Athletics Ontario (sherylpreston@athleticsontario.ca)  with the following format.

    • ​EVENT | PLACE | LAST NAME | FIRST NAME | YOB | CITY | PROVINCE| DISTANCE | GUN TIME | DIV| DIV PLACE| SEX | SEX | PLACE | CHIP TIME

  • PARTICIPANT LISTS must be submitted to Athletics Ontario (roadtrail@athleticsontario.ca) for insurance purposes, and for inclusion in our education-based AO Road & Trail Newsletter 

  • This list must include: Name, Date of Birth, city and email address for all participants that started the event, and in Excel or CSV


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PROVINCIAL SANCTIONING DIFFERS FROM ATHLETICS CANADA CERTIFICATION 

  • Provincial/Athletics Ontario Sanction = Safety; record eligibility, AC course measurement certificate eligibility

  • ​Athletics Canada (AC) Certification: = Course Accuracy - apply directly with AC

    • Effective 2027 it is a requirement that Athletics Canada Certified courses must also hold a valid Athletics Ontario Sanction each year to maintain AC Course Measurement validity
       

SANCTION & SAFETY RACE AUDIT

 
ATHLETICSREG CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT​
Administrators and members may also contact AthleticsReg for questions regarding your account, payments or requirements through the following ways:
In your account, you can explore the online knowledge base to find comprehensive FAQ’s on using the system -Click here.
Email info@athleticsreg.ca
Live on-line chat during the hours of 11:00 am to 7:00 pm EST Monday to Friday.
Phone 1-866-534-2453 (press 1, then 9)

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EVENT Insurance

All road and trail running races / events that require insurance coverage under Athletics Ontario's Insurance Program:

 

PLEASE NOTE: Insurance Certificates can take up to 3 weeks to process; please apply with ample time before your event. Last minute requests are not guaranteed to be issued.

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  • INSURANCE INFORMATION
    Comprehensive insurance coverage for all of your events and activities including but not limited to: road/trail races, associated activities and events, and training groups (Insurance details can be found here); all Athletics Ontario Sanctioned road and trail events under each Athletics Ontario Race Organization. IN 2027 all AO Sanctioned  running races are covered under the AO insurance policy.

    DIRECTOR & OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE (FOR NOT FOR PROFITS WITH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

  • If Directors and Officers Liability insurance is required (for Not-for-Profit Organizations with a Board of Directors), you must take out an Athletics Ontario ASSOCIATE Membership, obtain an annual police record check ,and complete NCCP Safe Sport module as outlined below:

    • Athletics Ontario ASSOCIATE Membership  Associate membership is located under  Unattached Member - Technical - Associate

    • ASSOCIATE REQUIREMENTS:

      • Criminal Background Check - submission options:

        • Submit your own Background Criminal Record Check to office@athleticsontario.ca.

        • Submit at time of Associate Membership registration via Sterling Backcheck. Athletics Ontario is pleased to offer a fast, convenient, and credible online method to request and obtain your police record check electronically, at the the time of registration, or upon expiration of your previously submitted police check. The type of check provided is a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC). 

      • NCCP Safe Sport – This module must be completed and valid. To register for this FREE online module, please visit https://thelocker.coach.ca/onlinelearning#SS

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Race Director Summit
January 23, 2027

Athletics Ontario looks forward to hosting our 10th annual Nationao Race Director Summit on Saturday, January 23th, 2027, at the stunning Centennial College Event Centre. The day promises to deliver, yet again, a full slate of high-impact content, including expert-led presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and meaningful knowledge-sharing opportunities specifically designed for race directors and event organizers. With a strong focus on best practices in event planning, safety, marketing, technology, and athlete experience, the summit reinforces a shared goal: equipping race directors with the tools and insights needed to deliver world-class events across Ontario.

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Athletics Ontario extends sincere thank you to everyone involved in the  9th Annual National Race Director Summit presented by Race Roster on January 24, 2026! We thank our sponsors and partners whose support was instrumental to the event's success of this year's event: 

Race Roster, Athletics Canada, Marathon Printing Inc., Marathon Photos Canada, Surge Activewear, Scimitar Sports, Axis Gear, Henley Financial & Wealth Management Inc., Marsquest, and Chiptime Results.

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