Sports Event Insurance

Specialist insurance for sports event organisers and those participating

  • Cover for event organisers and participants
  • Get an instant quote online
  • Single and multi-day events covered
  • Join over 150,000 customers**

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From £45.56* one-day event

Get a quote for sports event insurance

Are you an event organiser or participating in a sports event? Select the option which best describes your role in the event.

Event Organiser

Event participant

Trusted by thousands...

Our reviews speak for themselves, with highly rated feedback from over 3,000 customers.¹

What does sports event insurance cover?

When planning a sports event, you’ll want to make sure everything’s covered! Our insurance for sports events includes essential liability cover to protect you from allegations of injury and damage to a third party or their property. You can also customise your policy with necessary extras like equipment cover and employers’ liability, adding them only if they apply to your event.

We can provide cover to organisers of a wide range of sporting events from organising a running race, a triathlon or a football tournament. Whether you’re holding a one-day event or multi-day tournament select the options that are suitable to your needs.

Are you participating in a sports event? We also have a policy for individuals competing in a wide range of different sports events. For the UK we offer a Sports Accident cover or Sports Travel cover if you’re travelling abroad.

Make sure you have the correct insurance for your activties and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.

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Public Liability

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Cancellation

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Equipment

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Employers' Liability

Sports Event Organiser

Event Participant

Why do you need sports event cover?

As a sports event organiser, you want all participants to be safe and focused on the activity, sporting achievement or competition at hand. However, things can go wrong, and part of your responsibility is to plan for these situations.

This is when sports event insurance come in to help manage the risks involved. Protectivity cover hundreds of different sporting events in the UK every year, from single day activities to longer, weeklong competitions. We can help you understand the appropriate cover you’ll need. Here are a few scenarios to help explain why sports event cover is required:

Protection from claims if a member of the public gets injured.

Sporting events often attract large crowds, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries to members of the public.

Ensure you have public liability for sports events to protect you and your event, participants and spectators against these incidents such as trip and fall accidents, injuries caused by equipment or structures.

An employee, temporary worker or volunteer suffers a workplace accident.

Sports event volunteers may be at risk of accidents or injuries during their work. If employees or volunteers are involved in your event, employers’ liability is a legal obligation to include with fines of £2500 per day for failing to comply.

Accidental damage to sports event equipment.

Your sporting event may depend on specialist equipment, due to the nature of events it is likely moved around and subsequently damages and losses are more of a risk.

With sports event equipment cover you can replace or repair equipment you’ve hired, leased, loaned, or own yourself.

A sports centre asks for public liability to hold an event.

If you are hiring a sports venue, they may expect proof of public liability for your event as a minimum before confirming a booking.

Our experts explain why...

“Securing sports event insurance is crucial in safeguarding your investment and mitigating unforeseen risks. Whether organising a tournament or race, unexpected incidents can jeopardise the financial security of your event. Sport event insurance provides a safety net, covering liabilities, or property damage, offering peace of mind and allowing you to focus on creating memorable experiences rather than worrying about potential setbacks. It’s a wise investment that ensures you can focus on the competition and enjoy a stress-free affair.”

Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager

Making claims clear and simple

We work with our claims handling partners to make the process of making a claim as easy as possible.

Claims data as of 01.10.2024

£4.5million

paid in claims

£188081

largest claim paid

How much does sports event insurance cost?

At Protectivity policies start at just £45.56*, for an event organiser holding a one-day sports event.

Securing sports event insurance takes the weight off managing your risks and responsibilities for holding an event or participating in one.

Sports Event Insurance will vary in price depending on the length and scale of an event and any additional extras you might need.

 

Prices from

£45.56*

Explainer quote

Policy cost

£45.56*

Policy type

Sports Event

Duration

1 Day

Event Type

Athletics competition

Number of Attendees

Up to 50

Public Liability

£2,000,000

Professional Indemnity

£1,000,000

This example is based on a real quote from our website on 12/03/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.

Have a question?

For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.

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Help & Support

Find answers to your questions and other assistance.

Why choose Protectivity for your sports event insurance policy?

Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹

Trusted by over 150,000 customers.

Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.

Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.

Proof of our excellent customer service.

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Experienced Claims Handling

A smooth and efficient claims process.

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UK Based Customer Support

Our UK sales team are here to help.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Sports Event Insurance

Can you include cover for non-sporting activities at our sporting event?

Our insurance policy product will include all of the elements you are liable for at your event(s), not just the sports being undertaken at the event. You may have a post competition music celebration, or perhaps food and drink offering, maybe even a fun fair! If it is taking place at the same event(s), you will need disclose this during the quote process for our consideration. Any activities, services and facilities provided and managed by third party contractors, will require their own insurance.

Do you include injury to participants?

It depends on the activities at your event(s). Those activities that are defined as contact sports or involve increased endurance considerations can sometimes exclude cover for participant injury, however this will be disclosed to you at quote stage if you select an activity the insurer is unable to cover participant injury for.

Do you need to have health & safety/risk assessment procedures in place?

Yes, given that your event involves physical participation in an activity, there is an insurer requirement to document appropriate considerations when it comes to the associated risks involved.

Is there any age stipulation with your sports events insurances?

No, there are no age limits on our Sports Events Insurance.

What type of sports events do you cover?

We can insure a variation of sports and activity events, including running, swimming and triathlon based endurance events. Please ensure you provide as much information about your event as you can, within your application of insurance, so that underwriters can consider your event appropriately.

Sports Travel

I’m British but live abroad, can sports travel insurance cover me?

We only cover persons who have been resident of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man or at an official BFPO (i.e. British Armed Forces base) (in which case Country of Residence is substituted for United Kingdom) for at least the last 6 months.

Do you offer a discount for group bookings?

Yes, we offer a 5% discount for parties of 5 or more and a 10% discount for parties of 10 or more.

Are there any altitude restrictions when going on a climbing holiday?

For Climbing (sea cliffs / ice climbing), Mountain climbing (with ropes and/or guides), you will be limited to 4000m when outside of Europe (zones 2 and 3).Please note that if you are likely to come across ice whilst you are climbing, you will need to select mountain climbing incl. ropes/guides. This will cover you for crevassed approaches and descents to mountain summits and ice climbing involving ice axes, crampons, ropes and the use of bolts.

I’m planning to do an activity that isn’t listed on the website, can you cover it?

Call or email us with your details and we would be happy to have a look into it for you. As we already cover over 500 sports, we might just be able to add another one.

Will my policy cover a pre-existing medical condition?

It will depend upon what the condition is and the treatment being received, and it may be affected by the sport that you are planning to do. You would need to provide details which would be submitted to our underwriters, who would then agree the terms under which they would approve the condition. For some more common conditions we can tell you instantly whether or not you would be covered. Otherwise, you can expect to hear within 24 hours (during the working week).

Will my medical condition affect the price of my policy?

No. The only difference it will make is whether or not we will include cover for any claims relating to that condition. Sometimes the answer is no, and sometimes we will apply a higher excess to any claims that were connected to that condition.

I already have a policy but have been diagnosed with a new medical condition, what should I do?

You should advise us of any new medical condition or injury sustained during the course of an annual policy otherwise cover for it will automatically be excluded.

What should I do if I require medical treatment abroad?

At the first opportunity, you (or someone on your behalf) should call our International Medical Group number 01494 412402. They will be able to help and advise you, and where possible deal direct with the hospital / clinic. If you need alternative flights / transport to get you home, they can help to arrange this. If the treatment is not an emergency, you should always check first to ensure that it will be covered. If you are in Europe, show your EHIC card whenever requested, and then you will not be charged the excess on your policy.

What is the maximum age limit on this policy?

Our policies will cover anyone up to the age of 74 at the time of purchase. An applicant aged 75 or over cannot be covered.

Will my annual policy also cover trips in the UK?

Yes, so long as it is a “trip” which we would define as a minimum of two nights away in pre-booked accommodation.

Is my sports equipment covered?

Yes, we cover sports equipment under all our levels of cover: up to £600 on the Gold Sports Travel Insurance, £400 for Silver and £200 for Bronze. Cover under the Gold level of cover can be increased in £500 increments from the standard £600 cover, up to a maximum of £5,600.

Can individuals travel alone even if they are covered on a couple or family policy?

Yes. However, for children there are restrictions. Children under the age of 12 should always travel with an adult insured under the policy, or with a responsible adult. If travelling without an adult named on the policy, cover would need to be upgraded to the equivalent adult rate, and the appropriate additional premium would need to be paid. Children aged 12 and over can travel independently but would need to pay / upgrade to the equivalent adult rate. A child can be included under the policy at the appropriate child rate up to the age of 23 as long as they are in full time education at time of purchase. A child under the age of 23 who is not still in full time education can be covered under the policy but would need to pay the appropriate adult rate. Please call or email us to get a quote.

Are there any countries you can’t cover me for?

We are not able to provide cover under any section of the policy if you are travelling to a destination against the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). You can check this online at www.fco.gov.uk or by calling 0207 008 0232. We also cannot cover areas more than 150KM (93 Miles) from nearest habitation.

I’m pregnant, can I get cover?

We can cover you provided that you are not expecting to give birth within 2 months of return from the trip and you will not be travelling against medical advice.

Will I be covered to compete in a competition?

Most of our sports include cover for competitive sports unless they say otherwise. Often we then list the same sport including competition, so please check our full list of sports, or contact us to check.

What dates do I need to cover myself for?

With this policy you would need to cover yourself from the date that you leave home to the date that you return to your home – not just for the dates that you will be doing an activity. You don’t need to add on extra days in case your flight is delayed though – if that happens through no fault of yours, you would be covered under the policy.

Can I take out this policy after I have left the UK to travel?

You can’t do this online. It must be taken out with a Sales Agent over the phone 01494 484800.
It would need to be agreed by us that those who had already left their country of residence at time of purchase will be covered.
Cover is only agreed on the understanding that nothing has occurred at time of purchase which is likely to result in a claim. There is a 24 hour deferment period from the date and time of purchase before the insurance cover commences.

Will this policy cover me just like a standard travel insurance policy?

Yes, just like any other travel insurance, we’ll cover you should you become unwell or have an accident abroad, lose your luggage or experience delays even on trips not involving sports.

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This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.

*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 13/03/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.

** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024

ˆ10% discount for selected policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.

¹Based on live Feefo data