At the 1988 Calgary Olympics Canadian athletes failed to win a single gold medal, however, the impact of the games has far surpassed anyone's imagination. Following the games the venues were sold by the Calgary Organizating Committee to the Canadian Olympic Development Association (CODA) which later became WinSport Canada for a $1. CODA's mandate was to manage the legacy of the Calgary Games so Canadians could produce Olympic medallists at future Olympiads. The vision of Frank King and the Calgary Organizing Committee to create a Winter Sport Institue is seen today. Consider that of the 24 medallists at the 2006 Olympics 16 of them trained in Calgary and surrounding area utilizing the Olympic facilities from the 1988 Games. The number is expected to be even greater in 2010.
Recognzing the legacy of the 1988 Games this blogger hoped that the organizers of the 2010 Olympics Games (VANOC) would try to create a similar type of legacy in Vancouver and Whistler. However, this hope appears to be fading fast. Reports out of the business sections of newspapers in the United States and Canada indicate that some of the facilities are facing bankruptcy. http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/742535--intrawest-scrambles-for-cash Not to worry the 2010 Games won't be impacted, however the legacy that follows could in fact be in real jeopardy. Imagine a scenario where Canada's Olympic visision is managed by a group of bankers on Wall Street. The possibility is a lot closer than you might imagine.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Wishes
Best of the holiday season to everyone out there. With the holiday season upon us thought I would send out my Christmas wish list for Canada's Summer Olympic Community in 2010 and beyond.
1) A recognition by Canada's funding partners of the importance team sports has in the development of athletic skills and the need to fund team sports accordingly.
2) An end to the Summer Olympic Medal Drought for team sports in Canada. The last time Canada won a medal in a team event was a silver medal by Canada's Men's Basketball Team in 1936. Here is hoping that with increased funding that changes in 2012
3) Continued funding for individual team sports in Canada.
4) Canada's Summer Sports Organizations, and the members that serve them, be accountable for their sports performances at upcoming world cups, world championships and Olympic Games.
5) Canada's media, athletes and fans take an interest in the performance of Canada's Summer Sports Organizations at future world cups, world championships and Olympic Games
6) New Blood that is enthusiastic and is willing to make a change in Canada's Sports Organizations as opposed to hiring recycled sports executives and coaches who have shown a history of failure in years past.
7) The creation of a summer sports institute in Canada similar to the one currently in place in Calgary for Canada's Winter Sports athletes.
8) That Canada's Summer Olympians begin to recieve some of the media attention that their winter counterparts have become accustomed to.
9) A return to prominence for Canada's Amateur Boxing Program.
10) Canada's amateur athletes take an active interest in the future of amateur sport in Canada.
Merry Christmas everybody. Here is hoping that my wishes become a reality in 2010 and beyond! Lets work together to ensure that they are.
1) A recognition by Canada's funding partners of the importance team sports has in the development of athletic skills and the need to fund team sports accordingly.
2) An end to the Summer Olympic Medal Drought for team sports in Canada. The last time Canada won a medal in a team event was a silver medal by Canada's Men's Basketball Team in 1936. Here is hoping that with increased funding that changes in 2012
3) Continued funding for individual team sports in Canada.
4) Canada's Summer Sports Organizations, and the members that serve them, be accountable for their sports performances at upcoming world cups, world championships and Olympic Games.
5) Canada's media, athletes and fans take an interest in the performance of Canada's Summer Sports Organizations at future world cups, world championships and Olympic Games
6) New Blood that is enthusiastic and is willing to make a change in Canada's Sports Organizations as opposed to hiring recycled sports executives and coaches who have shown a history of failure in years past.
7) The creation of a summer sports institute in Canada similar to the one currently in place in Calgary for Canada's Winter Sports athletes.
8) That Canada's Summer Olympians begin to recieve some of the media attention that their winter counterparts have become accustomed to.
9) A return to prominence for Canada's Amateur Boxing Program.
10) Canada's amateur athletes take an active interest in the future of amateur sport in Canada.
Merry Christmas everybody. Here is hoping that my wishes become a reality in 2010 and beyond! Lets work together to ensure that they are.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Canada's Best!
The accolades are starting to roll in for the world's best athletes as this decade comes to a conclusion. Despite his indiscretions, Tiger Woods is widely regarded as the decade's best golfer. Lance Armstrong is being recognized as this decade's most dominant cyclist. Peyton Manning is the NFL's best. In baseball - dependant upon who you listen to it is A-Rod or Albert Pujols. But who would be recognized as Canada's Best Summer Olympic able-body athlete this decade?
The decision is highly subjective and could include any number of athletes, however, I think the following athletes showed a high level of achievement throughout the decade: They are:
Adam van Koeverden: Medals at two sepearte Olympiads, a world champion, a Lou Marsh award winner in 2004 and an Olympic Gold Medallist, this athlete has been at the very top of his sport for the last six years.
Daniel Nestor: An Olympic gold medallist at the 2000 Olympics, Nestor won all four grand slam tournaments this past decade and is currently the two time defending champion in men's doubles at Wimbledon. Nestor is arguably the most dominat men's doubles player of his era with 64 doubles titles to his record, more than any other active player today.
Steve Nash: At the 2000 Olympics, Nash almost single handily carried Canada's National Basketball program towards the Olympic podium before losing in a quarter final thriller to France. Since then, Nash has been at the very top of his sport, winning the Lou Marsh award in 2005 and is a two time winner of the NBA's most valuable award.
And the winner.....
Jake Wetzel. -Most Canadians have likely never heard of the man but he has been arguably the world's most dominant rower for the past ten years. A dual citizen of both the United States and Canada - Wetzel first competed for the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games. Disatisfied with US Rowing - Wetzel returned home to Canada in 2002 and went on to win the world championships in 2003 in the Open Men's 4-. A year later he found himself in the race of the decade going head to head against famed British Rower Mathew Pincent. Wetzel and his teamates ended up settling for silver losing the gold by less than 2 hundreths of a second. Following the games, Wetzel suffered through back surgery before returning to the sport in 2006. In 2007, Wetzel became a world champion for the second time winning the Men's 8+. And in 2008 Wetzel finally won Olympic gold - winning the men's 8+ race in convincing fashion. Today, Wetzel is a director withCanadian Athletes Now and is using his Ph.D degree from Oxford to benefit the Olympians of tomorrow- today.
The decision is highly subjective and could include any number of athletes, however, I think the following athletes showed a high level of achievement throughout the decade: They are:
Adam van Koeverden: Medals at two sepearte Olympiads, a world champion, a Lou Marsh award winner in 2004 and an Olympic Gold Medallist, this athlete has been at the very top of his sport for the last six years.
Daniel Nestor: An Olympic gold medallist at the 2000 Olympics, Nestor won all four grand slam tournaments this past decade and is currently the two time defending champion in men's doubles at Wimbledon. Nestor is arguably the most dominat men's doubles player of his era with 64 doubles titles to his record, more than any other active player today.
Steve Nash: At the 2000 Olympics, Nash almost single handily carried Canada's National Basketball program towards the Olympic podium before losing in a quarter final thriller to France. Since then, Nash has been at the very top of his sport, winning the Lou Marsh award in 2005 and is a two time winner of the NBA's most valuable award.
And the winner.....
Jake Wetzel. -Most Canadians have likely never heard of the man but he has been arguably the world's most dominant rower for the past ten years. A dual citizen of both the United States and Canada - Wetzel first competed for the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games. Disatisfied with US Rowing - Wetzel returned home to Canada in 2002 and went on to win the world championships in 2003 in the Open Men's 4-. A year later he found himself in the race of the decade going head to head against famed British Rower Mathew Pincent. Wetzel and his teamates ended up settling for silver losing the gold by less than 2 hundreths of a second. Following the games, Wetzel suffered through back surgery before returning to the sport in 2006. In 2007, Wetzel became a world champion for the second time winning the Men's 8+. And in 2008 Wetzel finally won Olympic gold - winning the men's 8+ race in convincing fashion. Today, Wetzel is a director withCanadian Athletes Now and is using his Ph.D degree from Oxford to benefit the Olympians of tomorrow- today.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Amateur Sport Coalition
Excellent article written about the need for Canadian Team Sports to rally together and promote the importance of team sports in Canada. The article can be found at http://www.canada.com/sports/Coalition+rallies+Canadian+team+sports/2342226/story.html
Under the Own the Podium program in Canada team sports are suffering at the hands of individual team sports because as Dr. Roger Jackson notes "at best a team sport (like Basketball) can win two medals at an Olympics whereas a sport like swimming can win a plethora of medals."
However, team sports are at the essence of sport development and are at the heart of the long term athlete development model in Canada. In a survey of high performance athletes 90% said they participated in team sports in the developmental stages of their careers and that 73 per cent of the athletes surveyed indicated that participation in team sport was important to their development as an athlete. Despite the fact that Canada hasn't won an Olympic medal in a team sport at a Summer Olympiad since 1936 team sports play an integral role in the development of our national team athletes.
Isn't it time that Canadian sport officials recognized the importance of team sports in Canada and started funding them appropriately. This writer thinks so...
Under the Own the Podium program in Canada team sports are suffering at the hands of individual team sports because as Dr. Roger Jackson notes "at best a team sport (like Basketball) can win two medals at an Olympics whereas a sport like swimming can win a plethora of medals."
However, team sports are at the essence of sport development and are at the heart of the long term athlete development model in Canada. In a survey of high performance athletes 90% said they participated in team sports in the developmental stages of their careers and that 73 per cent of the athletes surveyed indicated that participation in team sport was important to their development as an athlete. Despite the fact that Canada hasn't won an Olympic medal in a team sport at a Summer Olympiad since 1936 team sports play an integral role in the development of our national team athletes.
Isn't it time that Canadian sport officials recognized the importance of team sports in Canada and started funding them appropriately. This writer thinks so...
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Angels and Demons
Excellent piece in the National Post today about a group of high powered investors who have joined forces and created a Charitable Amateur Athletic Association helping to give a talented group of amateur athletes all the resources they require to win gold in 2010. The piece can be found at http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2332439. The company - B2Ten was founded under the principal of circumenting the tradititional beurocratic route of financing sport in Canada and create a business like approach to making good Olympians - great.
The concept isn't new of course in Canada. Jane Roos and her company Canadian Athletes Now - Previously "See you in Sydney...." has been looking at ways of providing athletes with annual grants of $6,000 per year through chartiable donations from ordinary Canadians.
Looking farther back in the early 1990's a B2Ten type of initiative was put forth in Canada by the unlikeliest of organizations. That organization was the Canadian Olympic Association (Now the COC). At the time the COA ran what was called the Olympic Trust which garnered donations from private corporations and high profile Canadians to help assist Canada amateur athletes in pursuing greatness. And from all signs the concept worked. The 1992, 1994 and 1996 Olympics were then the most sucesful non-boycotted games for Canadian athletes in the history of the Olympic movement.
However, acccording to Paul Henderson, a IOC and COC member, the COA did not like the Olympic trust because it meant that the COA and the trust had to be accountable to its funding partners. "Dick Pound and then COA President Carol Ann Letheran hated this concept," says Henderson. By the late 1990's the initiative was terminated, but the COA had achieved what it wanted. It was no longer required to submit audited financial statements to its investors and the affairs of the organization were hidden from all.
No wonder then that that B2Ten and Roos are not pleased with the current state of affiars. "Private industry is not keen on bureaucracy, not keen on administration, not keen on politics -- unfortunately, for better or worse, when you look at public sector, you look at national amateur sport bodies, more often than not, you find all those elements," says B2Ten Spokesman J.D Miller. Here is hoping that with charibale companies like B2Ten and Roos leading the way things are starting to change for the better.
The concept isn't new of course in Canada. Jane Roos and her company Canadian Athletes Now - Previously "See you in Sydney...." has been looking at ways of providing athletes with annual grants of $6,000 per year through chartiable donations from ordinary Canadians.
Looking farther back in the early 1990's a B2Ten type of initiative was put forth in Canada by the unlikeliest of organizations. That organization was the Canadian Olympic Association (Now the COC). At the time the COA ran what was called the Olympic Trust which garnered donations from private corporations and high profile Canadians to help assist Canada amateur athletes in pursuing greatness. And from all signs the concept worked. The 1992, 1994 and 1996 Olympics were then the most sucesful non-boycotted games for Canadian athletes in the history of the Olympic movement.
However, acccording to Paul Henderson, a IOC and COC member, the COA did not like the Olympic trust because it meant that the COA and the trust had to be accountable to its funding partners. "Dick Pound and then COA President Carol Ann Letheran hated this concept," says Henderson. By the late 1990's the initiative was terminated, but the COA had achieved what it wanted. It was no longer required to submit audited financial statements to its investors and the affairs of the organization were hidden from all.
No wonder then that that B2Ten and Roos are not pleased with the current state of affiars. "Private industry is not keen on bureaucracy, not keen on administration, not keen on politics -- unfortunately, for better or worse, when you look at public sector, you look at national amateur sport bodies, more often than not, you find all those elements," says B2Ten Spokesman J.D Miller. Here is hoping that with charibale companies like B2Ten and Roos leading the way things are starting to change for the better.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Summer Sports Executive of the Year
In sport leagues across the continent executives, writers, coaches and athletes vote on who they would select as their executive of the year across a cross section of sports. The award is an informal one - but no less recognizes excellence on the field of play and as well at the administrative level through organization and franchise success.
Unfortunately within Canada's amateur sports system there isn't such a recognition but what if there was? Who would be Canada's Summer Olympic Executive of the Past Decade?
My nominees are:
Phil Moncton: V.P Technical of Rowing Canada. Phil was elected to the post in 2004 following a disastrous Olympic Games in which Rowing Canada failed to meet expectations. Faced with tough decisions - Moncton severed ties with long time Rowing Canada employees Alan Roaf in 2006 and Laryssa Biesenthal in 2008. In addition, Moncton took a hands on approach in his handling of athlete concerns as exemplified by his decision to have Al Morrow oversee Canada's Lightweight Woman's Program in the winter of 2008. Following the 2008 Olympic Games where Rowing Canada won 4 Olympic medals - Moncton stepped back from matters with the hiring of Peter Cookson but no question - Moncton remains instrumental in the success of the organization today.
Pierre Lafontaine - CEO - Swim Canada - Following the 2004 Olympic Games where Canada's Swim Program nearly imploded - Lafontaine was hired to change the culture in the sport. A Canadian who had worked at the Australian Institue of Sport four years prior to his arrival in Canada - Lafontaine brought real leadership and a sense of a "Can Win" Attitude into the program. The impact was immediate. Today, Canadian Swimmers are a force on the international scene - and what seemed like a pipe dream some four years ago are now breaking world records. The hope is for three Olympic medals in London 2012. Ask Lafontaine and that estimate seems low.
Kevin Tyler - Former Director of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (CACC) at the U of A - Despite the mess within Athletics Canada - Tyler was a shining light. Focusing on Coaching Education Programs, and encouraging participation and excellence in athletics, Tyler amassed a collection of world class athletes that would make the United States Track & Field Association proud; athletes training in Edmonton under Tyler included including Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel, Carline Muir, Brian Barnett. Unfortunately for Athletics Canada - Tyler is now working with UK Athletics.
Danek Nowosielski - HP Director Fencing - What? This may be the first thing one would think as a Canadian has never won an Olympic medal in the sport. However, consider that entering this decade a Canadian had never won a World Championship medal in the sport. Today, Canadian athletes have won three medals at World Championships. Furthermore, the junior program is improving, funding for the sport has nearly doubled in the past five years and the sport has a long term plan to win medals at future Olympiads. Add to all this, the passion of a man who is willing to make a phone call in the middle of the day to disput information that is posted on this very blog - this nomination is well earned.
And the winner is
Anne Merklinger - Former CEO of Canoe/Kayak Canada - Improved coaching, increased participation, enhanced corporate sponsorship, more clubs and Canada's most succesful Summer Olympic Sport over the past three Olympiads. Merlinger is this decade's Summer Olympic Sport's Executive of the Decade.
Unfortunately within Canada's amateur sports system there isn't such a recognition but what if there was? Who would be Canada's Summer Olympic Executive of the Past Decade?
My nominees are:
Phil Moncton: V.P Technical of Rowing Canada. Phil was elected to the post in 2004 following a disastrous Olympic Games in which Rowing Canada failed to meet expectations. Faced with tough decisions - Moncton severed ties with long time Rowing Canada employees Alan Roaf in 2006 and Laryssa Biesenthal in 2008. In addition, Moncton took a hands on approach in his handling of athlete concerns as exemplified by his decision to have Al Morrow oversee Canada's Lightweight Woman's Program in the winter of 2008. Following the 2008 Olympic Games where Rowing Canada won 4 Olympic medals - Moncton stepped back from matters with the hiring of Peter Cookson but no question - Moncton remains instrumental in the success of the organization today.
Pierre Lafontaine - CEO - Swim Canada - Following the 2004 Olympic Games where Canada's Swim Program nearly imploded - Lafontaine was hired to change the culture in the sport. A Canadian who had worked at the Australian Institue of Sport four years prior to his arrival in Canada - Lafontaine brought real leadership and a sense of a "Can Win" Attitude into the program. The impact was immediate. Today, Canadian Swimmers are a force on the international scene - and what seemed like a pipe dream some four years ago are now breaking world records. The hope is for three Olympic medals in London 2012. Ask Lafontaine and that estimate seems low.
Kevin Tyler - Former Director of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (CACC) at the U of A - Despite the mess within Athletics Canada - Tyler was a shining light. Focusing on Coaching Education Programs, and encouraging participation and excellence in athletics, Tyler amassed a collection of world class athletes that would make the United States Track & Field Association proud; athletes training in Edmonton under Tyler included including Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel, Carline Muir, Brian Barnett. Unfortunately for Athletics Canada - Tyler is now working with UK Athletics.
Danek Nowosielski - HP Director Fencing - What? This may be the first thing one would think as a Canadian has never won an Olympic medal in the sport. However, consider that entering this decade a Canadian had never won a World Championship medal in the sport. Today, Canadian athletes have won three medals at World Championships. Furthermore, the junior program is improving, funding for the sport has nearly doubled in the past five years and the sport has a long term plan to win medals at future Olympiads. Add to all this, the passion of a man who is willing to make a phone call in the middle of the day to disput information that is posted on this very blog - this nomination is well earned.
And the winner is
Anne Merklinger - Former CEO of Canoe/Kayak Canada - Improved coaching, increased participation, enhanced corporate sponsorship, more clubs and Canada's most succesful Summer Olympic Sport over the past three Olympiads. Merlinger is this decade's Summer Olympic Sport's Executive of the Decade.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Summer Sports - Razzie Awards
"Sport organizations are often the last refuge of the incompetent."
Pierre Lafontaine CEO of Swimming Canada
Each year the Golden Rasberry Award Foundation recognizes the worst that Hollywood has to offer in the Motion Picture Industry. Unfortunately this recognition doesn't extend into amateur sports but if it did here would be my recommendations for this decade's Worst Performance in a Leadership Role with a Summer Sport Organization. The nominees are:
Les Gramantik - Athletics Canada - At the 1996 Olympics Gramantik recommends that world champion decathlete Mike Smith, be given an I.V to help offest the extreme heat in Atlanta. The Olympic favorite is later treated for overhydration and struggles just to finish the competition. Gramantik goes on to coach Canada's track & field teams at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. The result - A single bronze medal. Gramantik is now an assistant in the organization overseeing the sport’s high performance centre in Calgary, Alberta.
Martin Goulet - From the late 1990's through to 2006 Martin Goulet led Canada's middle distance program in the province of Quebec. Unfortunately, those within the sport can't remember Canada's last middle distance runner to hail from the province. No matter. Goulet was recently promoted to the position of chief high-performance officer for Athletics Canada.
Fred Nykamp - Nykamp was appointed Executive Director and CEO of Basketball Canada in 2004. During his tenure corporate sponsorship dropped, membership numbers fell and Canada failed to qualify a men's team at the 2006 World Championships for the first time in nearly 40 years. Recognizing how bad things were Nykamp jumped ship in May 2007 to oversee matters with the Canadian Soccer Association. One problem, however, the Canadian Soccer Association failed to ratify his contract before he quit his post with Basketball Canada. Nykamp was terminated from his duties with the CSA in September 2007.
Dave Johnson - Remember the disaster surrounding the Canadian Swim Program at the 2004 Olympics. Johnson oversaw the program...enough said.
Canadian Cycling Association Board of Directors - Canada's cycling program used to be the envy of the amateur sports world here in Canada. No more. Financial woes, 4 CEO's in the last 6 years, and 0 Olympic medals at the 2008 Olympics for the first time in 20 years have many wondering....what happened?
And the winner is...........
John O' Shea - President of Canada's Amateur Boxing Association - The sport at one time produced some of Canada's most memorable athletes of all time. Oh how times have changed. At the 2008 Olympics Canada had 1 athlete representative in the sport - Adam Trupish. O'Shea blames a lack of funding on the sport's woes saying, "Our facilities and coaching are second to none, what is lacking is the backing." Undeniably cutbacks in federal funding have affected the sport, but the sports woes run much deeper than just money.
Other individuals considered for nomination were
Alan Roaf - Rowing - Two years Canada's rowers would like to forget. However, Canada's summer athletes aren't so fortunate. Roaf was a contritubor in the development of the Summer Own the Podium plan back in 2005
John Paul Cody Cox - Executive Director - Volleyball Canada - A Career administrator - John Paul Cody Cox was appointed to the position of executive director in 2007. Since then Volleyball Canada has had to quit the World Volleyball League. And as for Canada's National Teams. Canada hasn't had a men's or woman's team compete at the Olympic Games since 1996.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Best of Times
Like "A Tale of Two Cities" the contrast between Canada's Winter and Summer Programs is no less varying than Charles Dicken's depiction of Paris and London in the late 1700's.
While Canada's Summer Olympic Athletes have struggled for the past decade - Canada's Winter Olympic Athletes are flourishing. Consider that at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Canadians nearly won more medals (41) than they won in the previos 5 Winter Olympiads combined (44). But not only are our Winter Athletes winning more medals than at any time in their history they are also converting on medal winning opportunities more frequently than ever before. When measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded Canadians won a total of 1.76% of medals awarded in the 70's, 2.97% in the 80's, in the 90's Canadian athletes converted 6.26% of the time and now in this first decade of the 21st century - Canadian athletes won 8.43% of all Olympic Winter Medals awarded.
This past decade, in the sports of speedskating, hockey, curling and skeleton, Canadian athletes were more succesful than any other nation in the world. In the sports of figure skating and snowboarding Canada remained a world power, and in the sports of bobsleigh, and cross country skiing, where Canada used to be an also ran, our athletes are now winning medals.
Notable achievements from this past decade are:
Olympic Gold Medallists: Marc Gagnon (Short Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon & Eric Bedard & Jonathan Guilmette & Francois Louis Tremblay & Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Relay), Catriona LeMay Doan (Speed Skating), Jamie Sale & David Pelletier (Figure Skating), Duff Gibson (Skeleton), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2), Men's Ice Hockey Team, Cindy Klassen (Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (Speed Skating), Jen Heil (Freestyly Skiing), Chandra Crawford (Cross Country Skiing)
Multiple Medallists: Cindy Klassen (6 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (3 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon ( 3 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2 medals), Beckie Scott (2 medals - Cross Country Skiing), Anouk Leblanc (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Kristina Groves - ( 2 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Eric Bedard (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Alanna Kraus (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Francois Louis Tremblay ( 2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Speed Skating).
Medals by Sport (in order): Speed Skating - Short & Long Track (21), Curling (4), Cross Country Skiing (3), Ice Hockey (3), Skeleton (3), Freestyle Skiing (3), Figure Skating (2) Bobsleigh (1), Snowboard (1)
While Canada's Summer Olympic Athletes have struggled for the past decade - Canada's Winter Olympic Athletes are flourishing. Consider that at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Canadians nearly won more medals (41) than they won in the previos 5 Winter Olympiads combined (44). But not only are our Winter Athletes winning more medals than at any time in their history they are also converting on medal winning opportunities more frequently than ever before. When measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded Canadians won a total of 1.76% of medals awarded in the 70's, 2.97% in the 80's, in the 90's Canadian athletes converted 6.26% of the time and now in this first decade of the 21st century - Canadian athletes won 8.43% of all Olympic Winter Medals awarded.
This past decade, in the sports of speedskating, hockey, curling and skeleton, Canadian athletes were more succesful than any other nation in the world. In the sports of figure skating and snowboarding Canada remained a world power, and in the sports of bobsleigh, and cross country skiing, where Canada used to be an also ran, our athletes are now winning medals.
Notable achievements from this past decade are:
Olympic Gold Medallists: Marc Gagnon (Short Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon & Eric Bedard & Jonathan Guilmette & Francois Louis Tremblay & Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Relay), Catriona LeMay Doan (Speed Skating), Jamie Sale & David Pelletier (Figure Skating), Duff Gibson (Skeleton), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2), Men's Ice Hockey Team, Cindy Klassen (Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (Speed Skating), Jen Heil (Freestyly Skiing), Chandra Crawford (Cross Country Skiing)
Multiple Medallists: Cindy Klassen (6 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (3 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon ( 3 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2 medals), Beckie Scott (2 medals - Cross Country Skiing), Anouk Leblanc (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Kristina Groves - ( 2 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Eric Bedard (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Alanna Kraus (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Francois Louis Tremblay ( 2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Speed Skating).
Medals by Sport (in order): Speed Skating - Short & Long Track (21), Curling (4), Cross Country Skiing (3), Ice Hockey (3), Skeleton (3), Freestyle Skiing (3), Figure Skating (2) Bobsleigh (1), Snowboard (1)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Worst of Times
“Sport is in a better place now. “Things have changed. We’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk when it comes to athletes. We’re doing a better job.” Diane Jones Konihowski - moments before the start of the 2000 Olympic Games.
With the countdown now having begun to mark the start of a new decade, it is now time to reflect on the decade that just was. For our Summer Olympic Athletes it was a decade to forget. Consider that at three Summer Olympiads this past decade, Canadians won a total of 44 medals or just 1.56% of the 2809 Olympic medals awarded. In fact when measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded - this past decade was Canada's worst showing since the 1970's. Consider that in the 90's Canadians won a total of 2.4% of medals awarded, in the 80's 3.7% and in the 70's, a decade known as one that our Summer Athletes would like to forget, Canadian athletes converted 1.32% of the time.
When examining matters by sport, the results also show that this past decade was Canada's second worst in the history of the modern day games in the sport of Track & Field. Canada hasn't had a decade this bad since the 1950's when no Canadian athlete won a medal. In every other decade Canadian athletes won at least one silver medal in the sport - the exception being this this past one where Canada's best was a single bronze medal. Things aren't any better in boxing where this past decade was arguably Canada's worst since the sport was first introduced in 1920. And when it comes to our swimmers, the medal tally in the pool (2) was Canada's lowest since the 1950's.
Here is hoping the next 10 years are better for all of our Summer Olympic Athletes. Here is hoping.
Notable Achievements by our Summer Athletes in the last decade are:
Gold Medallists: Daniel Igali (Men's Wrestling), Sebastian Lareau & Daniel Nestor (Men's Tennis), Simon Whitfield (Men's Triathlon), Lori Ann Muenzer (Woman's Cycling), Kyle Shewfelt (Men's Gymnastics) Adam van Koeverden (Kayak), Men's 8+ (Rowing) Carol Hunyh (Woman's Wrestling) Eric Lamaze (Equestrian)
Multiple Medallists: Karen Cockburn (3 medals in Trampoline) Adam van Koeverden (1 silver and 1 bronze to go along with his 1 gold medal in the sport of Triathlon) Alex Despatie (2 silver medals - Diving), Emily Heymans ( 2 silver - 1 bronze - Diving), Jake Wetzel (1 silver - 1 gold - Rowing), Caroline Brunet ( 2 silver medals - Kayak), Tanya Verbeek (Woman's Wrestling, Eric Lamaze ( 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal - Equestrian)
Medal Tally by Sport and Ranked From Highest to Lowest (Medals Won at the past three Olympiads): Canoe/Kayak - 7 medals, Rowing - 6 medals, Trampoline - 5 medals, Diving, - 5 medals, Wrestling - 4 medals, Cycling - 3 medals, Triathlon - 2 medals, Equestrian - 2 medals, Swimming - 2 medals, Taekwondo - 2 medals, Tennis - 1 medal, Gymnastics - 1 medal Judo - 1 medal, Sailing - 1 medal, Syncronized Swimming - 1 medal, Track & Field - 1 medal
With the countdown now having begun to mark the start of a new decade, it is now time to reflect on the decade that just was. For our Summer Olympic Athletes it was a decade to forget. Consider that at three Summer Olympiads this past decade, Canadians won a total of 44 medals or just 1.56% of the 2809 Olympic medals awarded. In fact when measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded - this past decade was Canada's worst showing since the 1970's. Consider that in the 90's Canadians won a total of 2.4% of medals awarded, in the 80's 3.7% and in the 70's, a decade known as one that our Summer Athletes would like to forget, Canadian athletes converted 1.32% of the time.
When examining matters by sport, the results also show that this past decade was Canada's second worst in the history of the modern day games in the sport of Track & Field. Canada hasn't had a decade this bad since the 1950's when no Canadian athlete won a medal. In every other decade Canadian athletes won at least one silver medal in the sport - the exception being this this past one where Canada's best was a single bronze medal. Things aren't any better in boxing where this past decade was arguably Canada's worst since the sport was first introduced in 1920. And when it comes to our swimmers, the medal tally in the pool (2) was Canada's lowest since the 1950's.
Here is hoping the next 10 years are better for all of our Summer Olympic Athletes. Here is hoping.
Notable Achievements by our Summer Athletes in the last decade are:
Gold Medallists: Daniel Igali (Men's Wrestling), Sebastian Lareau & Daniel Nestor (Men's Tennis), Simon Whitfield (Men's Triathlon), Lori Ann Muenzer (Woman's Cycling), Kyle Shewfelt (Men's Gymnastics) Adam van Koeverden (Kayak), Men's 8+ (Rowing) Carol Hunyh (Woman's Wrestling) Eric Lamaze (Equestrian)
Multiple Medallists: Karen Cockburn (3 medals in Trampoline) Adam van Koeverden (1 silver and 1 bronze to go along with his 1 gold medal in the sport of Triathlon) Alex Despatie (2 silver medals - Diving), Emily Heymans ( 2 silver - 1 bronze - Diving), Jake Wetzel (1 silver - 1 gold - Rowing), Caroline Brunet ( 2 silver medals - Kayak), Tanya Verbeek (Woman's Wrestling, Eric Lamaze ( 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal - Equestrian)
Medal Tally by Sport and Ranked From Highest to Lowest (Medals Won at the past three Olympiads): Canoe/Kayak - 7 medals, Rowing - 6 medals, Trampoline - 5 medals, Diving, - 5 medals, Wrestling - 4 medals, Cycling - 3 medals, Triathlon - 2 medals, Equestrian - 2 medals, Swimming - 2 medals, Taekwondo - 2 medals, Tennis - 1 medal, Gymnastics - 1 medal Judo - 1 medal, Sailing - 1 medal, Syncronized Swimming - 1 medal, Track & Field - 1 medal
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Hypothetically Speaking
Imagine for a second. You are Mark Carney, Govenor for the Bank of Canada. You oversee Monetary Policy in Canada, and financial markets react to seemingly every word you speak. Recognizing your high work load, you hire an Executive Assistant to assist you in managing your day. The Executive Assistant you hire is young, but is enthusiastic and has previous banking experience albeit in a local bank handling personal mortgages.
Continuing on with our imaginary situation - economic leaders around the world agree to congregate in New Delhi, India, to help solve the world's economic woes. As the Governor of the Bank of Canada you begin to asemble your team to work with you at this all too important meeting. You agree to bring with you leading experts in the field of economics, statistics, financial modelling. You bring political leaders, or do you.? Imagine, for a second you bring your executive assistant to act as one of your chief economists. Impossible? In the world of finance likely yes, but in Canada's amateur sport system, scenarios like this happen on an all too frequent occurence. The most recent example was the announcement of the mission staff for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Alex Baumann, executive director of the Own the Podium program, oversees Canada's Summer Olympic Program. He is in essence the Mark Carney of Canada's Summer Olympic Program. And to assist him with this cause, the Own the Podium program hired Shelley Milton in January 2008 to be his executive assistant. Previous to this post Shelley was an administrative/project coordinator for Field Hockey Canada. However, with a little more than 12 months on post as an executive assistant for the Own the Podium Program, Shelley was chosen as a Mission Staff Memeber for Commonwealth Games Canada at the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India. And her role will be in the field of coaching and applied science.
Shouldn't we as tax paying citizens, question decisions like these? After all the Commonwealth Games are a premiere sporting event bringing together thousands of athletes across the commonwealth; they help prepare our Olympians for future Olympiads!
Our summer athletes deserve better.........................don't they?
Continuing on with our imaginary situation - economic leaders around the world agree to congregate in New Delhi, India, to help solve the world's economic woes. As the Governor of the Bank of Canada you begin to asemble your team to work with you at this all too important meeting. You agree to bring with you leading experts in the field of economics, statistics, financial modelling. You bring political leaders, or do you.? Imagine, for a second you bring your executive assistant to act as one of your chief economists. Impossible? In the world of finance likely yes, but in Canada's amateur sport system, scenarios like this happen on an all too frequent occurence. The most recent example was the announcement of the mission staff for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Alex Baumann, executive director of the Own the Podium program, oversees Canada's Summer Olympic Program. He is in essence the Mark Carney of Canada's Summer Olympic Program. And to assist him with this cause, the Own the Podium program hired Shelley Milton in January 2008 to be his executive assistant. Previous to this post Shelley was an administrative/project coordinator for Field Hockey Canada. However, with a little more than 12 months on post as an executive assistant for the Own the Podium Program, Shelley was chosen as a Mission Staff Memeber for Commonwealth Games Canada at the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India. And her role will be in the field of coaching and applied science.
Shouldn't we as tax paying citizens, question decisions like these? After all the Commonwealth Games are a premiere sporting event bringing together thousands of athletes across the commonwealth; they help prepare our Olympians for future Olympiads!
Our summer athletes deserve better.........................don't they?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Athletes Canada - An Experiment Gone Wrong.
Athletes Canada, an independent organization designed to service the needs of Canada’s amateur athletes, was introduced in 1992, based on the desire of Canada’s amateur athletes to have their own voice separate from Canada’s sporting brass. The organization was formed under the leadership of Ann Peel, a race walker on Canada’s track and field team, and consisted of a small independent group of athletes, including, among others, of Olympic gold medallist Kay Worthington in rowing, Olympic medallist Steve Podborski in alpine skiing, and Dan Thompson in aquatics. At the time, the voice of Canada’s amateur athletes was the Athletes’ Council, which was part of the Canadian Olympic Committee. However, Peel and her crew recognized realized how divergent the athletes’ voice was from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).
Recognizing a need to have its own voice - seperate from the COC, Athletes Canada hit the Canadian sports landscape with a bang, demanding increased funding for Canada’s athletes and better representation within Canada’s sporting organizations. “In those first few years we were radical, not nice, and did a lot of things right,” says Peel. “In 1995, athletes received their first carding increase in over ten years and Sport Solution was created to provide athletes with legal information and assistance. We filed appeals on behalf of athletes and demonstrated to sport organizations that athletes had rights.”
Many of the programs created by Peel and her group continue to exist today. However, the organization today is only a shadow of its former self. As Peel herself notes, “I don’t think they are serving Canada’s athletes well.” She goes on to add. “Today, if someone wants a career in sports administration, they use Athletes Canada as a stepping stone compromising their ability to be an effective critic."
The evidence bears out Peel's concerns. Thomas Jones, the past Executive Director with Athletes Canada is now the CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada. Claire - Carver Dias, was elected president of Athletes Canada while also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and later Bobsleigh Canada/Skeleton. Iain Brambell was a board member with Athletes Canada while also working for B.C Athletes Voice. Trevino Betty was a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada while also serving as a board membe with Athletes Canada. Alex Loo is double dipping with Athletes Canada and the COC. Michael Smith was President of Athletes Canada while also serving as a mission staff member with the COC - and was just announced to be a mission staff for Commonwealth Games Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Alexandra Orlando - a board member with Athltetes Canada is also going to the 2010 Games as a Mission Staff Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. So too is Suzanne Weckend. So too is Todd Allison. The list goes on and on and on.
Isn't it time that the Athletes retain its independance from the sport system. Ann Peel thinks so. "To have an effective, independent voice, you cannot compromise your independence by connecting advocacy with your need for a career. The career has to come first. That is why it is always so important that athletic leadership retain its independence from the sporting system.”
If only the board members Athletes Canada who represent Canada's amateur athletes remembered this.
Recognizing a need to have its own voice - seperate from the COC, Athletes Canada hit the Canadian sports landscape with a bang, demanding increased funding for Canada’s athletes and better representation within Canada’s sporting organizations. “In those first few years we were radical, not nice, and did a lot of things right,” says Peel. “In 1995, athletes received their first carding increase in over ten years and Sport Solution was created to provide athletes with legal information and assistance. We filed appeals on behalf of athletes and demonstrated to sport organizations that athletes had rights.”
Many of the programs created by Peel and her group continue to exist today. However, the organization today is only a shadow of its former self. As Peel herself notes, “I don’t think they are serving Canada’s athletes well.” She goes on to add. “Today, if someone wants a career in sports administration, they use Athletes Canada as a stepping stone compromising their ability to be an effective critic."
The evidence bears out Peel's concerns. Thomas Jones, the past Executive Director with Athletes Canada is now the CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada. Claire - Carver Dias, was elected president of Athletes Canada while also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and later Bobsleigh Canada/Skeleton. Iain Brambell was a board member with Athletes Canada while also working for B.C Athletes Voice. Trevino Betty was a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada while also serving as a board membe with Athletes Canada. Alex Loo is double dipping with Athletes Canada and the COC. Michael Smith was President of Athletes Canada while also serving as a mission staff member with the COC - and was just announced to be a mission staff for Commonwealth Games Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Alexandra Orlando - a board member with Athltetes Canada is also going to the 2010 Games as a Mission Staff Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. So too is Suzanne Weckend. So too is Todd Allison. The list goes on and on and on.
Isn't it time that the Athletes retain its independance from the sport system. Ann Peel thinks so. "To have an effective, independent voice, you cannot compromise your independence by connecting advocacy with your need for a career. The career has to come first. That is why it is always so important that athletic leadership retain its independence from the sporting system.”
If only the board members Athletes Canada who represent Canada's amateur athletes remembered this.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Anyone Keeping Score
This past weekend Canada's speed skaters dominated the competion winning an incredible 11 medals at world cup stops in Heerenveen, Netherlands and Marquette Michigan.
At the last ISU World Cup stop, prior to the start of the 2010 Olympics for Canada's short track speed skaters, Canadian athletes brought home an incredible 7 medals; 4 of which were won in the individual 500m event. On the Men's side Francois Louis Tremblay took home gold while Charles Hamelin won bronze. Our woman led by Kalyna Roberge won silver and Maryanne St. Gelais took the bronze. In other events, Francois Hamelin won bronze in the individual 1,000m. Canada's men's and woman's relay teams closed out the event winning gold and bronze respectively.
Canada's long track speed skaters fared equally as well at the 3rd World Cup Stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Christine Nesbitt took home gold in the1,000m and silver in the 1,500m narrowly edging out Kristina Groves in the process who won bronze. The two skaters then teamed up together in the Woman's pursuit to take home gold.
And despite the sucesses this past weekend, the facts are; things can only get better. Denny Morrison, a world champion in men's 1,500m has yet to find his form this season, and Canada's most decorated athlete in the sport, Jeremy Wotherspoon is returning to action following a serious injury in December 2008 that forced him to miss the past 10 months. Don't forget about Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen - Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes. We all know come Olympic time they will be ready. And then there are the intangibles. Jamie and Jessica Gregg, a brother and sister tandem whose father is former NHL Defenceman Randy Gregg, could challenge for individual medals in Vancouver as could Justin Warsylewicz, an Olympic silver medalist from Torino.
With the Vancouver Olympics now only 100 days away things are certainly looking favorable for Canada's Speed Skating Team. And the question on most Canadians minds is...can they top the 12 medals they won at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. This writer says...easily.....Better start keeping score!
At the last ISU World Cup stop, prior to the start of the 2010 Olympics for Canada's short track speed skaters, Canadian athletes brought home an incredible 7 medals; 4 of which were won in the individual 500m event. On the Men's side Francois Louis Tremblay took home gold while Charles Hamelin won bronze. Our woman led by Kalyna Roberge won silver and Maryanne St. Gelais took the bronze. In other events, Francois Hamelin won bronze in the individual 1,000m. Canada's men's and woman's relay teams closed out the event winning gold and bronze respectively.
Canada's long track speed skaters fared equally as well at the 3rd World Cup Stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Christine Nesbitt took home gold in the1,000m and silver in the 1,500m narrowly edging out Kristina Groves in the process who won bronze. The two skaters then teamed up together in the Woman's pursuit to take home gold.
And despite the sucesses this past weekend, the facts are; things can only get better. Denny Morrison, a world champion in men's 1,500m has yet to find his form this season, and Canada's most decorated athlete in the sport, Jeremy Wotherspoon is returning to action following a serious injury in December 2008 that forced him to miss the past 10 months. Don't forget about Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen - Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes. We all know come Olympic time they will be ready. And then there are the intangibles. Jamie and Jessica Gregg, a brother and sister tandem whose father is former NHL Defenceman Randy Gregg, could challenge for individual medals in Vancouver as could Justin Warsylewicz, an Olympic silver medalist from Torino.
With the Vancouver Olympics now only 100 days away things are certainly looking favorable for Canada's Speed Skating Team. And the question on most Canadians minds is...can they top the 12 medals they won at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. This writer says...easily.....Better start keeping score!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Pan-Am Euphoria
On Friday November 6, 2009 Toronto, Ontario was selected as host city for the upcoming 2015 Pan-American Games. The announcement brought instant euphoria to sporting officials who have longed appealed to the federal government for enhanced sport funding in Southern Ontario.
In the next six years Southern Ontario will witness the construction of a brand new aquatics facility, plus a pair of 50m training pools, an interntional sized indoor velodrome and many other much needed athletic facilities. But will constrcution of these facilities benefit Canada's high perforamance programs leading into - and following the games themselves. History indicates no.
Since 1976 Canada has hosted an Olympic Games (Montreal), two Commonwealth Games (Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994) , a Pan-American Games (Winnipeg in 1999), a Universaide Games (Edmonton in 1983)and countless world championships - and none of these events have been leveraged to bring Canada's Summer Sports Organizations together. In fact it could be argued that Canada's Summer Olympic System is worse off today than it was in early 80's - despite a plefora of world class events hosted on Canadian soil.
Truthfully, only the 1988 Calgary Games have effectively managed the legacy of a multi-sport Games thereby benefiting Canada's winter Olympic athletes. Some 20 years after the conclusion of the1988 Olympics - all 15 of Canada's winter sport organizations train in a sporting insitute right here in Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary, Canada's winter athletes have access to every imaginable service and resoucre they require to be competitive with the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Canada's winter Olympic athletes are poised to stand atop the podium in Vancouver more often than any other nation in the world.
Meanwhile, Canada's Summer Athletes are envious of their Winter Olympic cousins. They train out of make-shift facilities that lack many of the modern amenities that our winter athletes enjoy. Furthermore, they find themselves scattered across the nation with one group of athletes in Victoria another in Halifax and the remainder in regions in between. It is with little wonder then that our summer athletes aren't as succeful as they could/should be.
Here's hoping that the 2015 Pan-American Games changes all that.....here's hoping.
In the next six years Southern Ontario will witness the construction of a brand new aquatics facility, plus a pair of 50m training pools, an interntional sized indoor velodrome and many other much needed athletic facilities. But will constrcution of these facilities benefit Canada's high perforamance programs leading into - and following the games themselves. History indicates no.
Since 1976 Canada has hosted an Olympic Games (Montreal), two Commonwealth Games (Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994) , a Pan-American Games (Winnipeg in 1999), a Universaide Games (Edmonton in 1983)and countless world championships - and none of these events have been leveraged to bring Canada's Summer Sports Organizations together. In fact it could be argued that Canada's Summer Olympic System is worse off today than it was in early 80's - despite a plefora of world class events hosted on Canadian soil.
Truthfully, only the 1988 Calgary Games have effectively managed the legacy of a multi-sport Games thereby benefiting Canada's winter Olympic athletes. Some 20 years after the conclusion of the1988 Olympics - all 15 of Canada's winter sport organizations train in a sporting insitute right here in Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary, Canada's winter athletes have access to every imaginable service and resoucre they require to be competitive with the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Canada's winter Olympic athletes are poised to stand atop the podium in Vancouver more often than any other nation in the world.
Meanwhile, Canada's Summer Athletes are envious of their Winter Olympic cousins. They train out of make-shift facilities that lack many of the modern amenities that our winter athletes enjoy. Furthermore, they find themselves scattered across the nation with one group of athletes in Victoria another in Halifax and the remainder in regions in between. It is with little wonder then that our summer athletes aren't as succeful as they could/should be.
Here's hoping that the 2015 Pan-American Games changes all that.....here's hoping.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Rich Get Richer
This past weekend Rowing Canada staged the 2009 National Rowing Championships in London, Ontario. The regatta invites athletes from across the country who compete in either singles or pairs for the honor of being acclaimed National Champion.
The event is relatively unique in its format in that it is restricted to small boats (singles and pairs) and invites athletes with varying skill levels, ages and abilities. But after observing the proceedings one thing is abundantly clear. Canada's men's program will be a force in the next Olympic quadrennial.
In attendance were Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Rutledege, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and Kevin Light - who from appearances - appear commited to train on a full time basis through to London 2012. They join a group of athletes that includes Gabe Bergen, James Dunaway and Steve VanKnotsenburg who were members of Canada's silver medal winning 8+ at the 2009 World Championships and as well Michael Brathwaite - Bronze Medallist at the 2009 U23 World Championships. All of who were in attendance in London.
And now add to the mix are the intangibles who weren't there but from the sounds of things might be returning. In conversing with with Assistant National Team Coach Alison Dobbs, Olympic Gold Medallists Jake Wetzel, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton and Brian Price have asked to be placed back on famed head coach Mike Spracklen's mailing list - indicating to many that a return is inevitable.
And despite the depth of talent in attendance and the discusson surrounding those who weren't - the winner of the Men's pair at the 2009 National Rowing Championships were a pair of 19 year olds; Colin McCabe, and Anthony Jacobs. The future truly is bright within Rowing Canada.
The event is relatively unique in its format in that it is restricted to small boats (singles and pairs) and invites athletes with varying skill levels, ages and abilities. But after observing the proceedings one thing is abundantly clear. Canada's men's program will be a force in the next Olympic quadrennial.
In attendance were Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Rutledege, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and Kevin Light - who from appearances - appear commited to train on a full time basis through to London 2012. They join a group of athletes that includes Gabe Bergen, James Dunaway and Steve VanKnotsenburg who were members of Canada's silver medal winning 8+ at the 2009 World Championships and as well Michael Brathwaite - Bronze Medallist at the 2009 U23 World Championships. All of who were in attendance in London.
And now add to the mix are the intangibles who weren't there but from the sounds of things might be returning. In conversing with with Assistant National Team Coach Alison Dobbs, Olympic Gold Medallists Jake Wetzel, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton and Brian Price have asked to be placed back on famed head coach Mike Spracklen's mailing list - indicating to many that a return is inevitable.
And despite the depth of talent in attendance and the discusson surrounding those who weren't - the winner of the Men's pair at the 2009 National Rowing Championships were a pair of 19 year olds; Colin McCabe, and Anthony Jacobs. The future truly is bright within Rowing Canada.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Orlando Please Stand Up
Athletes Can - an organization representing the rights of Canada's amateur athletes staged their flagship event - the Athletes Forum in Vancouver B.C some three weeks ago. The purpose of the event is to bring athlete leaders from a cross section of amateur sports together and discuss issues that impact Canada's amateur athletes. And there are a number of them....some of which are
However, in reviewing the blog of Alexandra Orlando - Canada's most prominent athlete in the sport of rythmic gymnastics - one wonders if any of these issues were discussed. She writes "So here is my ode to AthletesCAN Forum 2009. Each morning started with an hour of yoga and went right into an amazing (oh, sorry no adjectives) breakfast." Orlando adds "We then entered the Delta Hotel Richmond’s ballroom where we began a day of super fascinating presentations. The first speaker was the President of AthletesCAN, who answered my burning question: “What is AthletesCAN?”
Orlando is an athlete we as Canadians should respect. She broungt home an incredible 6 gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is a shining light in the sport that is largely dominated by Eastern European Nations. But she is naive. Yoga, is not going to solve the issues of the day for Canada's amateur athletes and as an athlete rep would would hope that her burning question would be a little more thought provocative than...."What is Athletes Can".
Orlando, however, isn't unlike a number of Canadian athletes today. After a succesful career in amateur sports athletes like Orlando long for the life of an sports administrator. And Athletes Can is just such an organization. Spend a few years and volunteer your time with Atheltes Can...enjoy some free breakfasts do some Yoga and see your career in sports administration take off. The script is following suit for Orlando. Orlando is going to the 2010 Commonwealth Games as an administrator!
- 80% of Canada's amateur athletes live below the poverty line?
- The Disparate Nature of Amateur Sport in Canada.
- What happens after the Vancouver 2010 Games?
- Poor athlete representation.........(an issue for another day).
However, in reviewing the blog of Alexandra Orlando - Canada's most prominent athlete in the sport of rythmic gymnastics - one wonders if any of these issues were discussed. She writes "So here is my ode to AthletesCAN Forum 2009. Each morning started with an hour of yoga and went right into an amazing (oh, sorry no adjectives) breakfast." Orlando adds "We then entered the Delta Hotel Richmond’s ballroom where we began a day of super fascinating presentations. The first speaker was the President of AthletesCAN, who answered my burning question: “What is AthletesCAN?”
Orlando is an athlete we as Canadians should respect. She broungt home an incredible 6 gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is a shining light in the sport that is largely dominated by Eastern European Nations. But she is naive. Yoga, is not going to solve the issues of the day for Canada's amateur athletes and as an athlete rep would would hope that her burning question would be a little more thought provocative than...."What is Athletes Can".
Orlando, however, isn't unlike a number of Canadian athletes today. After a succesful career in amateur sports athletes like Orlando long for the life of an sports administrator. And Athletes Can is just such an organization. Spend a few years and volunteer your time with Atheltes Can...enjoy some free breakfasts do some Yoga and see your career in sports administration take off. The script is following suit for Orlando. Orlando is going to the 2010 Commonwealth Games as an administrator!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Nine Lives?
On October 22, 2009 CanoeKayak - Canada's most succesful summer sport in terms of Olympic medals won over at the past three Olympiads- named Lorraine Lafreniere as Director General to replace the outgoing Anne Merklinger. Merklinger is largely credited (and rightfully so) for the success Canoe/Kayak Canada has enjoyed over the past decade leaving this blogger to wonder what Canoe/Kayak Canada is thinking.
Lafreniere was a carreer adminstrator having worked at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Wheelchair Association before landing her first job with a National Sports Organization (Cycling Canada) in 2007. As CEO of Cycling Canada, Lafreniere openly admitted that she knew little of the organization she headed and it showed. Olympic medal winning performances in the sport went from 2 in 2004 to none in 2008. Road Races that were once fixtures of the sporting landscape disapeared. And as a result Cycling Forums had a field day with the woman http://www.cyclingforums.com/canada/379683-tell-us-lorraine.html before she finally resigned in March 2009.
In naming Lafreniere to head the organization Canoe Kayak Canada credited Lafreniere with instilling financial stability and strong high performance programs within Cycling Canada. If only
they researched the matter. During her tenure the sport faced financial difficulty while high performance programs were "restructured" (Dropped - according to this blogger) to deal with the financial woes.
Fortunately for Canoe/Kayak Canada individuals like Graham Barton remain, but with Lafreniere at the helm one has to wonder when even the sports most ardent supporters jump ship.
Lafreniere was a carreer adminstrator having worked at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Wheelchair Association before landing her first job with a National Sports Organization (Cycling Canada) in 2007. As CEO of Cycling Canada, Lafreniere openly admitted that she knew little of the organization she headed and it showed. Olympic medal winning performances in the sport went from 2 in 2004 to none in 2008. Road Races that were once fixtures of the sporting landscape disapeared. And as a result Cycling Forums had a field day with the woman http://www.cyclingforums.com/canada/379683-tell-us-lorraine.html before she finally resigned in March 2009.
In naming Lafreniere to head the organization Canoe Kayak Canada credited Lafreniere with instilling financial stability and strong high performance programs within Cycling Canada. If only
they researched the matter. During her tenure the sport faced financial difficulty while high performance programs were "restructured" (Dropped - according to this blogger) to deal with the financial woes.
Fortunately for Canoe/Kayak Canada individuals like Graham Barton remain, but with Lafreniere at the helm one has to wonder when even the sports most ardent supporters jump ship.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Sweet Science No More.
Remember the days of Lennox Lewis, Shawn O' Sullivan and Willie Dewitt; amateur boxers who were once the pride of Canadian amateur sport. The Canadian Boxing Association wish you did. In a era where Canada's amateur boxing system was ranked in the top 10% in the world in the late 80's and early 90's the organization has fallen upon hard times and is now ranked in the bottom 10% of the world today. What happened?
The answer is a hard one to determine but no doubt can be a culmultion of lack of funds and internal struggles within. To start with funding one has to go back to 1995. In 1995 the government of Canada financed sport to the tune of $47 million per annum, of which $468,000 went to the sport of boxing. By 2006, sport funding had nearly tripled to $140 million per annum, but only $413,000 of that went to the Canadian Boxing Association, a decrease of nearly 11 percent. While certain sports have reaped the windfall of enhanced sport funding Boxing Canada has been a steady loser.
Internally things aren't much better. Pat Fiacco, an official with Boxing Canada and the mayor of Regina claims there is a serious lack of leadership within Boxing Canada. “The current administration is dysfunctional at best,” he says. “There isn’t a permanent national coach, there is no national training centre, our funding has been reduced, and we have half the membership we used to have."
All of which may explain why boxing, once one of Canada’s prolific sports, hasn’t produced an Olympic medallist in twelve years, failed to win a single gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games for the first time in its history, and qualified a single athlete – Adam Trupish – to the 2008 Olympic team.
Interestingly however, Canada's boxers are still amonst the very best.....professionally. Steve Molitor and Artruro Gatti are Canadian legends within the sport. So why is it that Sport Canada, the Own the Podium Program and the COC are allowing the sport to self destruct when it is evident that the sport can continue to produce Olympic medallists.
Isn't it time for someone to assist in the lab find another potion and re-discover the Sweet Science. This blogger thinks so.
The answer is a hard one to determine but no doubt can be a culmultion of lack of funds and internal struggles within. To start with funding one has to go back to 1995. In 1995 the government of Canada financed sport to the tune of $47 million per annum, of which $468,000 went to the sport of boxing. By 2006, sport funding had nearly tripled to $140 million per annum, but only $413,000 of that went to the Canadian Boxing Association, a decrease of nearly 11 percent. While certain sports have reaped the windfall of enhanced sport funding Boxing Canada has been a steady loser.
Internally things aren't much better. Pat Fiacco, an official with Boxing Canada and the mayor of Regina claims there is a serious lack of leadership within Boxing Canada. “The current administration is dysfunctional at best,” he says. “There isn’t a permanent national coach, there is no national training centre, our funding has been reduced, and we have half the membership we used to have."
All of which may explain why boxing, once one of Canada’s prolific sports, hasn’t produced an Olympic medallist in twelve years, failed to win a single gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games for the first time in its history, and qualified a single athlete – Adam Trupish – to the 2008 Olympic team.
Interestingly however, Canada's boxers are still amonst the very best.....professionally. Steve Molitor and Artruro Gatti are Canadian legends within the sport. So why is it that Sport Canada, the Own the Podium Program and the COC are allowing the sport to self destruct when it is evident that the sport can continue to produce Olympic medallists.
Isn't it time for someone to assist in the lab find another potion and re-discover the Sweet Science. This blogger thinks so.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Torch Bearer
With the 2010 Games now only months away debate will certainly rage on for the next few months as to who should light the Olympic Cauldron in Vancouver. Wayne Gretzky - Canada's most recognizable sport figure will certainly be given consideration but having only competed at one Olympic Games (1998) - and never having won an Olympic medal of any color - Gretzky's name should be quickly looked over.
Nancy Greene - an Olympic gold medallist at the 1968 Games in Grenoble - and securely linked to the sport of skiing will be given some thought, however, recognizing her role within the Canadian Senate political interference might prevent her name from being put forward.
There will be other notables of course and each will come with their own merits. However, the name that should be put forward is that of Gaetan Boucher - the man who helped create the foundation of Canada's dominant rise in Winter Olympic Sport.
Prior to Boucher's double gold and bronze medal winning perforamances in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Games - Canada's performance in Winter Olympic Sport was limited to say the least. At the 1980 Games in Lake Placid - Canada won 2 medals one of which was by Boucher himself - a silver in the 1,000m - the other by Steve Podborski in Downhill Skiing. Canada hadn't won Olympic gold since 1976 (Kathy Kreiner) and no athlete had ever won multiple medals at a Winter Olympiad.
It was Boucher's performance in 1984 that helped spark interest in the sport of speed skating and spurned the start of Canada's next generation of Olympic athletes. Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves - two athletes who are expected to win medals in 2010 cite Boucher as the reason they first tried Speed Skating.
Perhaps it is time we recognized his legacy.
Nancy Greene - an Olympic gold medallist at the 1968 Games in Grenoble - and securely linked to the sport of skiing will be given some thought, however, recognizing her role within the Canadian Senate political interference might prevent her name from being put forward.
There will be other notables of course and each will come with their own merits. However, the name that should be put forward is that of Gaetan Boucher - the man who helped create the foundation of Canada's dominant rise in Winter Olympic Sport.
Prior to Boucher's double gold and bronze medal winning perforamances in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Games - Canada's performance in Winter Olympic Sport was limited to say the least. At the 1980 Games in Lake Placid - Canada won 2 medals one of which was by Boucher himself - a silver in the 1,000m - the other by Steve Podborski in Downhill Skiing. Canada hadn't won Olympic gold since 1976 (Kathy Kreiner) and no athlete had ever won multiple medals at a Winter Olympiad.
It was Boucher's performance in 1984 that helped spark interest in the sport of speed skating and spurned the start of Canada's next generation of Olympic athletes. Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves - two athletes who are expected to win medals in 2010 cite Boucher as the reason they first tried Speed Skating.
Perhaps it is time we recognized his legacy.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Schalm Wins Silver
Canada finished the 2009 world fencing championships with a best ever finish; a silver medal winning performance from Sherraine Schalm. In fact Schalm nearly won gold pushing her opponent to overtime after a 8-8 draw in regulation failed to solve matters. Schalm bowed out 20 seconds into the final never the less the performance was an impressive one.
In a sport dominated by Eastern Europeans - Schalm's success at the world championships is all the more impressive when one considers the envioronment from which she comes from. In Canada, fencing is seen as having little medal potential in future Olympiads.
However, Schalm claims that her success can in part be attributed to her decision to train as as a full time athlete in Hungary.
Unfotunately training in Hungary comes with its own hurdles. Entering the 2008 Olympics Schalm was considered a medal hopfull in the sport having won bronze at the 2005 world championships. However, shortly before the start of the 2008 Olympics, Schalm was told by her coach that she was no longer welcome to train with the Hungarian national team; She lost in the opening round of the Games to a Hungarian.
Never the less if not for the decision to train abroad, one doubts if Schalm would have ever gotten to the world championships in 2009 let alone win a medal. It is with little wonder then that after winning silver she burst into tears. The journey has been a long one.
In a sport dominated by Eastern Europeans - Schalm's success at the world championships is all the more impressive when one considers the envioronment from which she comes from. In Canada, fencing is seen as having little medal potential in future Olympiads.
However, Schalm claims that her success can in part be attributed to her decision to train as as a full time athlete in Hungary.
Unfotunately training in Hungary comes with its own hurdles. Entering the 2008 Olympics Schalm was considered a medal hopfull in the sport having won bronze at the 2005 world championships. However, shortly before the start of the 2008 Olympics, Schalm was told by her coach that she was no longer welcome to train with the Hungarian national team; She lost in the opening round of the Games to a Hungarian.
Never the less if not for the decision to train abroad, one doubts if Schalm would have ever gotten to the world championships in 2009 let alone win a medal. It is with little wonder then that after winning silver she burst into tears. The journey has been a long one.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Launch
Heatstroke, Why Canada's Summer Olympic Program is Failing and how We can Fix It, by Michael Simonson,is a passionate diagnosis of Canada's Summer Olympic performances and the disparate nature of amateur sport in Canada.
With over 80 per cent of all athletes living below the poverty line and billions of dollars being applied towards various sport causes, only our athletes have an interest in improving things within Canada. Heatstroke exposes the systemic causes of Canada's Summer Olympic failures against the backdrop of the country's increasing Winter Olympic success and the rise of summer athletes in Australia, a country that used to trail its northern Commonwealth cousin. Written with an understanding of Canada's wide-ranging affection for sporting activities, Simonson looks to preserve this part of our cultural identity, but something has to be done and fast.
"Unless Canadians start speaking to the importance of sport, we are at risk of losing a large piece of our cultural fabric in Canada," says Michael Simonson. "We need to examine Canada's Winter Olympic system and implement many of the ideas and programs if our summer athletes are going to be successful."
Simonson speaks about the politics that lie beneath the surface of Canada's Olympic movement, as well as within the country's amateur sport system, coaching ranks and amongst athletes themselves. He argues that Canada's summer athletes can replicate the success that Canadians have come to expect of their winter counterparts without it requiring a fundamental shift in societal and fiscal priorities.
"We don't seem to have the same leadership in summer sports," says Frank King, president of the Calgary Organizing Committee for the 1988 Winter Olympics. "We can't seem to get things together - but if ever there was a model on how to do it, all summer sports would need is to look at how our winter sports did it."
With interest in amateur sport greater than it has ever been, there is no better time for change than now. In Heatstroke, Simonson provides his own plan that will help restore our sporting legacy at the SummerOlympics while maintaining our present rate of success at the WinterGames.
The official book launch of Heatstroke will take place at the Gerry Thomas Gallery (602 11 Avenue SW) on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include a copy of the book. To purchase tickets, call403.589.2989. Heatstroke can also be purchased online at www.heatstrokethebook.com for $19.95.
With over 80 per cent of all athletes living below the poverty line and billions of dollars being applied towards various sport causes, only our athletes have an interest in improving things within Canada. Heatstroke exposes the systemic causes of Canada's Summer Olympic failures against the backdrop of the country's increasing Winter Olympic success and the rise of summer athletes in Australia, a country that used to trail its northern Commonwealth cousin. Written with an understanding of Canada's wide-ranging affection for sporting activities, Simonson looks to preserve this part of our cultural identity, but something has to be done and fast.
"Unless Canadians start speaking to the importance of sport, we are at risk of losing a large piece of our cultural fabric in Canada," says Michael Simonson. "We need to examine Canada's Winter Olympic system and implement many of the ideas and programs if our summer athletes are going to be successful."
Simonson speaks about the politics that lie beneath the surface of Canada's Olympic movement, as well as within the country's amateur sport system, coaching ranks and amongst athletes themselves. He argues that Canada's summer athletes can replicate the success that Canadians have come to expect of their winter counterparts without it requiring a fundamental shift in societal and fiscal priorities.
"We don't seem to have the same leadership in summer sports," says Frank King, president of the Calgary Organizing Committee for the 1988 Winter Olympics. "We can't seem to get things together - but if ever there was a model on how to do it, all summer sports would need is to look at how our winter sports did it."
With interest in amateur sport greater than it has ever been, there is no better time for change than now. In Heatstroke, Simonson provides his own plan that will help restore our sporting legacy at the SummerOlympics while maintaining our present rate of success at the WinterGames.
The official book launch of Heatstroke will take place at the Gerry Thomas Gallery (602 11 Avenue SW) on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include a copy of the book. To purchase tickets, call403.589.2989. Heatstroke can also be purchased online at www.heatstrokethebook.com for $19.95.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Dwindling Moments
With the talk surrounding Canada's top 10 Winter Olympic Moments one has to wonder what a Summer List would like like. In particular what athletic moments would resonate with the Canadian public today?
There is Donovan Bailey's gold medal winning performance in the 100m in Atlanta. As well who could forget Canada's gold medal winning victory in the 4 x 100m relay in the very same games. Going further back the 1992 Games saw Lennox Lewis first make a name for himself and who dares forget the 1988 Games that saw Ben Johnson win Olympic gold in the 100m dash in a world record time of 9.79 seconds. The 1984 Games had Willie Dewitt, Shawn O'sullivan, Anne Ottenbrite, Alex Baumann andVictor Davis. However some of these performances occurred over 25 years ago and are now but a distant memory for most Canadians. Meanwhile Cindy Klassen, Catriona Lemay Doan, Sale & Peltier are the names of the day. Unfotunately these names are associated with winter sport in Canada.
When it comes to the Summer Olympic Games Lemaze, Hunyh, Shewfelt, Muenzer, Hamilton are some of those that have produced Canadian gold this decade - but are they memorable Olympic moments? Only Canada can answer that, but who are they again?
There is Donovan Bailey's gold medal winning performance in the 100m in Atlanta. As well who could forget Canada's gold medal winning victory in the 4 x 100m relay in the very same games. Going further back the 1992 Games saw Lennox Lewis first make a name for himself and who dares forget the 1988 Games that saw Ben Johnson win Olympic gold in the 100m dash in a world record time of 9.79 seconds. The 1984 Games had Willie Dewitt, Shawn O'sullivan, Anne Ottenbrite, Alex Baumann andVictor Davis. However some of these performances occurred over 25 years ago and are now but a distant memory for most Canadians. Meanwhile Cindy Klassen, Catriona Lemay Doan, Sale & Peltier are the names of the day. Unfotunately these names are associated with winter sport in Canada.
When it comes to the Summer Olympic Games Lemaze, Hunyh, Shewfelt, Muenzer, Hamilton are some of those that have produced Canadian gold this decade - but are they memorable Olympic moments? Only Canada can answer that, but who are they again?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Top Five
Last week CTV came out with a list of its ten most memorable Winter Olympic memories. And as per usual the list was dominated by athletic performances over the past three Winter Olympiads. In fact there were only two achievements on the list that predated the 1998 Games in Najano, Japan and only 1 Olympic performance that predated the 1980 Games in Lake Placid;. that being Nancy Greene's gold medal performance in downhill skiing at the 1968 Games.
My top five list is as follows
#5) Barbara Ann Scott's Gold Medal Skate at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games becoming the first and only Canadian to win individual gold in the sport of figure skating.
#4) Elizabeth Manley. In what was supposed to be a battle of Carmens since both Debi Thomas and Katerina Witt both skated to the music from the opera Carmen, Elizabeth Manley came from out of no where to take Olympic silver. Who could forget the jubilation that Manley expressed while doning a white cowboy hat at the conclusion of her performance.
#3) Gaetan Boucher - In what was an unthinkable achievement at the time Gaetan Boucher skated to double gold in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Boucher's two gold medals were Canada's first in the sport and Canada's first gold medal in any sport (winter and summer alike) since Kathy Kreiner's win at the 1976 Winter Games.
#2) Nancy Greene - Her Gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble France has linked her name to the sport ever since.
#1) Gold Medal Victories in Hockey at the 1952 and 2002 Games. Before the 2002 Games Canada's last gold medal in the sport of ice hockey was won by the Edmonton Mercury's at the 1952 Games in Oslo Norway. That is until Mario Lemieux and team went out and broke a 50 year curse and sent jubillant Canadians from coast to coast to the streets.
My top five list is as follows
#5) Barbara Ann Scott's Gold Medal Skate at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games becoming the first and only Canadian to win individual gold in the sport of figure skating.
#4) Elizabeth Manley. In what was supposed to be a battle of Carmens since both Debi Thomas and Katerina Witt both skated to the music from the opera Carmen, Elizabeth Manley came from out of no where to take Olympic silver. Who could forget the jubilation that Manley expressed while doning a white cowboy hat at the conclusion of her performance.
#3) Gaetan Boucher - In what was an unthinkable achievement at the time Gaetan Boucher skated to double gold in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Boucher's two gold medals were Canada's first in the sport and Canada's first gold medal in any sport (winter and summer alike) since Kathy Kreiner's win at the 1976 Winter Games.
#2) Nancy Greene - Her Gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble France has linked her name to the sport ever since.
#1) Gold Medal Victories in Hockey at the 1952 and 2002 Games. Before the 2002 Games Canada's last gold medal in the sport of ice hockey was won by the Edmonton Mercury's at the 1952 Games in Oslo Norway. That is until Mario Lemieux and team went out and broke a 50 year curse and sent jubillant Canadians from coast to coast to the streets.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tough Love
On Wednesday September 30th 2009 Canada's woman's basketball team opens up the 8 team FIBA America's championships against the Dominican Republic. The top three teams from the tournament will go on to earn spots at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Czech Republic; an important first step for an organization that has had its fair share of troubles this decade.
Since the 2000 Olympic Games - where Steve Nash almost single handidly carried Canada's Men's basketball team to the medal podium before bowing out to France in the quarterfinals, Canada's basketball program has fallen on hard times. Not only did Canada’s men’s and woman’s teams fail to qualify for both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, Canada’s men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Championships for the first time in over 40 years.
In the front office things aren't any better. In 2004 Basketball Canada suffered a black eye for its controversial firing of Jay Triano as the men's team coach. Two years later Fred Nykamp- the executive director jumped at the chance to leave the organization for the Canadian Soccer Assocation - an organization with its own public trials. In 2008 the organization was accussed of charging athletes to atttend training camps and later that same year Sam Dalembert - arguably Canada's best player - publically refused to play for caoch Leo Rautins and Canada ever again.
Rautins remains.
Fortunately Canada's Basketball Program, found some inspiration on the men's side when it recently nabbed a spot in the 2010 world championships. And Canada's Woman's program tries to do the same at the end of September. However, one could argue that whatever progress the sport has made in the last year has been in spite of the national governing body, rather than because of it
Since the 2000 Olympic Games - where Steve Nash almost single handidly carried Canada's Men's basketball team to the medal podium before bowing out to France in the quarterfinals, Canada's basketball program has fallen on hard times. Not only did Canada’s men’s and woman’s teams fail to qualify for both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, Canada’s men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Championships for the first time in over 40 years.
In the front office things aren't any better. In 2004 Basketball Canada suffered a black eye for its controversial firing of Jay Triano as the men's team coach. Two years later Fred Nykamp- the executive director jumped at the chance to leave the organization for the Canadian Soccer Assocation - an organization with its own public trials. In 2008 the organization was accussed of charging athletes to atttend training camps and later that same year Sam Dalembert - arguably Canada's best player - publically refused to play for caoch Leo Rautins and Canada ever again.
Rautins remains.
Fortunately Canada's Basketball Program, found some inspiration on the men's side when it recently nabbed a spot in the 2010 world championships. And Canada's Woman's program tries to do the same at the end of September. However, one could argue that whatever progress the sport has made in the last year has been in spite of the national governing body, rather than because of it
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Year One Review
Canadian Sport Officials are on record of saying that its goal for the 2012 London Olympics is a top twelve finish in the overall medal count. Strong stuff indeed for a country that finished tied for 15th with 18 medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. So how are Canadians doing?
At the 2009 World Rowing Championships Canada's rowers won 1 medal, in 2008 Canadian rowers returned home with 4 Olympic medals. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep improved on her bronze medal wining performance from the 2008 Olympic games returning home with silver from the 2009 IAAF World Track & Field Championships. Unfortunately, the rest of Canada's Track & Field Team was blanked from the medal count.
Canada's swimmers and divers did improve on their performance from the 2008 Olympic Games - winning a combined 5 bronze medals in 2009 as opposed to 3 a year ago. However, the improvements end there. In Canoe/kayak Canada won two bronze medals. In Beijing same thing.
If you are keeping score at home, Canada returned home with 10 Olympic medals in the sports of rowing, swimming, athletics, canoe/kayak and diving. In 2009 Canada has won 9 medals + one additional one in woman's water polo.
With the world championships in wrestling, gymnastics still to come it is likely that Canada will improve on its medal haul. After all Canada did win 4 Olympic medals in these two sports in 2008. However, the likelihood of Canada showing marked improvement in its summer sporting activities in 2009 is slim.
In China, Canadians won its medals in the sports of Diving, Swimming, Athletics, Swimming, Rowing,Canoe/Kayak, Woman's Wrestling, Trampoline, Equestrian, and Judo. And while Canada's prospects for success in these disciplines are strong in the years to come, the likelihoold for success outside of these sports in 2012 is unlikely. Under the Summer Own the Podium Program (Previously known as Road to Excellence) Canadian sport officials are targeting sport funding to those sports which have a history of past success, and reducing funding to those that don't. As such if a sport didn't medal in 2008 - Canadians shouldn't expect medals in 2012.
Recognizing the above, any prospects for success for 2012 should be based on reviewing the success rate with those sports that won medals in 2008. And in reviewing the results year to date at 2009 World Championships it appears that little has changed and maybe even deteriorated from a year ago.
At the 2009 World Rowing Championships Canada's rowers won 1 medal, in 2008 Canadian rowers returned home with 4 Olympic medals. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep improved on her bronze medal wining performance from the 2008 Olympic games returning home with silver from the 2009 IAAF World Track & Field Championships. Unfortunately, the rest of Canada's Track & Field Team was blanked from the medal count.
Canada's swimmers and divers did improve on their performance from the 2008 Olympic Games - winning a combined 5 bronze medals in 2009 as opposed to 3 a year ago. However, the improvements end there. In Canoe/kayak Canada won two bronze medals. In Beijing same thing.
If you are keeping score at home, Canada returned home with 10 Olympic medals in the sports of rowing, swimming, athletics, canoe/kayak and diving. In 2009 Canada has won 9 medals + one additional one in woman's water polo.
With the world championships in wrestling, gymnastics still to come it is likely that Canada will improve on its medal haul. After all Canada did win 4 Olympic medals in these two sports in 2008. However, the likelihood of Canada showing marked improvement in its summer sporting activities in 2009 is slim.
In China, Canadians won its medals in the sports of Diving, Swimming, Athletics, Swimming, Rowing,Canoe/Kayak, Woman's Wrestling, Trampoline, Equestrian, and Judo. And while Canada's prospects for success in these disciplines are strong in the years to come, the likelihoold for success outside of these sports in 2012 is unlikely. Under the Summer Own the Podium Program (Previously known as Road to Excellence) Canadian sport officials are targeting sport funding to those sports which have a history of past success, and reducing funding to those that don't. As such if a sport didn't medal in 2008 - Canadians shouldn't expect medals in 2012.
Recognizing the above, any prospects for success for 2012 should be based on reviewing the success rate with those sports that won medals in 2008. And in reviewing the results year to date at 2009 World Championships it appears that little has changed and maybe even deteriorated from a year ago.
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Legend?
Mike Spracklen's boys look like they just might do it again. Canada's Men's eights started off the World Rowing Championships in Poznan Poland with a convincing victory giving them a birth in Sunday's final on the on the 30th of August.
A while the performance shouldn't come unexpected for a man who seems to win no matter what the circumstances it is truly impressive when one considers that Spraklen's Men's eight has rebuilt itself from its gold medal winning victory at the Beijing Olympic Games. Gone are cox Brian Price, Stroke Kyle Hamilton, Adam Kreek, Ben Rutledge, Kevin Light, Jake Wetzel and Dominic Seiterle and in their place come 7 athletes who didn't even compete in Beijing. But no matter. Spraklen has put his men's eight in a position where they just might win the world championships for the fourth time in the last eight years.
So what is the secret? Hard Work. Relying on the principle that the harder a person works, the more their body adjusts to the work, Spracklen squeezes every last drop of energy out of his athletes each and every day. For some, including many of Canada’s sport physiologists, it is too much, but those who compete for the man believe in him and his refinements.
“There’s no magic in it,” says athlete Jake Wetzel. “The whole time he puts us out of our comfort zone. You’re rewarded for failure, for pushing to the point where you fall apart. You’re not rewarded for mediocrity.” And so they keep pushing.
A self-obsessed rowing fan, Spracklen monitors every one of his twenty-plus weekly training sessions, ensuring that his athletes are piling up the mileage so that even on their worst day the team can walk away with the gold. It seems to be working.
A while the performance shouldn't come unexpected for a man who seems to win no matter what the circumstances it is truly impressive when one considers that Spraklen's Men's eight has rebuilt itself from its gold medal winning victory at the Beijing Olympic Games. Gone are cox Brian Price, Stroke Kyle Hamilton, Adam Kreek, Ben Rutledge, Kevin Light, Jake Wetzel and Dominic Seiterle and in their place come 7 athletes who didn't even compete in Beijing. But no matter. Spraklen has put his men's eight in a position where they just might win the world championships for the fourth time in the last eight years.
So what is the secret? Hard Work. Relying on the principle that the harder a person works, the more their body adjusts to the work, Spracklen squeezes every last drop of energy out of his athletes each and every day. For some, including many of Canada’s sport physiologists, it is too much, but those who compete for the man believe in him and his refinements.
“There’s no magic in it,” says athlete Jake Wetzel. “The whole time he puts us out of our comfort zone. You’re rewarded for failure, for pushing to the point where you fall apart. You’re not rewarded for mediocrity.” And so they keep pushing.
A self-obsessed rowing fan, Spracklen monitors every one of his twenty-plus weekly training sessions, ensuring that his athletes are piling up the mileage so that even on their worst day the team can walk away with the gold. It seems to be working.
Friday, August 21, 2009
CanoeKayak Canada's Loss
Anne Merklinger director general of Canoekayak Canada announced today that she was leaving the organization she has served proudly for the last 15 years to become the director of summer sport for the Own the Podium program. And while a coup for the Own the Podium program the announcement comes at a big loss to an organization she helped resurect.
When Merklinger came to Canoekayak Canada the organization had limited funding and won a single Olympic medal from 1988 through to 1996. Since then, CanoeKayak Canada has won eight medals at the past three Summer Olympiads. And in Adam van Koeverden and Caroline Brunet, the organization has produced two of Canada’s most decorated Olympians.
An athlete in her own right first as a national team swimmer then as an elite curler, Merklinger understood that the key to a sport organization was to direct as many resources as possible towards its athletes and coaches. Today, seven coaches work with the Canadian national team while regional coaches have been hired to identify and train paddlers across the country.
The benefactor is the sport itself. Not only is canoe-kayak Canada’s most successful sport at the past three Summer Olympiads, but as Merklinger herself acknowledges, “Athletes in competitive programs have increased by twenty, or twenty-five percent. In 2003, we had forty-five clubs. Now, we have eighty. Twenty-five (of those clubs) have full-time year-round coaches. There are a lot of opportunities to be a professional canoeist and kayaker.”
`Anne is an extraordinary talent whose athletic background, business acumen and leadership skills bring immense value to our organization as Own the Podium continues to deliver the resources Canadian athletes need to excel against the world's best,'' Alex Baumann, executive director (summer), for Own the Podium said in a statement.
In her new role Anne will help bring recommendations to the senior management team, lead annual reviews, and develop new programs and policies to help Canada's summer Olympians reach their full potential. If history is any indicator Anne will thrive in her new role creating enhanced opportunities for all summer sport athletes except for maybe Canada's canoeists and kayackers who only yesterday had Anne all to themselves.
When Merklinger came to Canoekayak Canada the organization had limited funding and won a single Olympic medal from 1988 through to 1996. Since then, CanoeKayak Canada has won eight medals at the past three Summer Olympiads. And in Adam van Koeverden and Caroline Brunet, the organization has produced two of Canada’s most decorated Olympians.
An athlete in her own right first as a national team swimmer then as an elite curler, Merklinger understood that the key to a sport organization was to direct as many resources as possible towards its athletes and coaches. Today, seven coaches work with the Canadian national team while regional coaches have been hired to identify and train paddlers across the country.
The benefactor is the sport itself. Not only is canoe-kayak Canada’s most successful sport at the past three Summer Olympiads, but as Merklinger herself acknowledges, “Athletes in competitive programs have increased by twenty, or twenty-five percent. In 2003, we had forty-five clubs. Now, we have eighty. Twenty-five (of those clubs) have full-time year-round coaches. There are a lot of opportunities to be a professional canoeist and kayaker.”
`Anne is an extraordinary talent whose athletic background, business acumen and leadership skills bring immense value to our organization as Own the Podium continues to deliver the resources Canadian athletes need to excel against the world's best,'' Alex Baumann, executive director (summer), for Own the Podium said in a statement.
In her new role Anne will help bring recommendations to the senior management team, lead annual reviews, and develop new programs and policies to help Canada's summer Olympians reach their full potential. If history is any indicator Anne will thrive in her new role creating enhanced opportunities for all summer sport athletes except for maybe Canada's canoeists and kayackers who only yesterday had Anne all to themselves.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Running Away
What if you held a track & field meet and no one showed up? In the case of Canada's track & field team Athletics Canada seems prepared to do its very part in testing that theory at the 2009 World Track & Field Championships.
Consider the following:
Consider the following:
- There are no Canadian women in the distance events, once one of Canada's biggest strengths on the track.
- There is one Canadian man running in an invididual sprint event;
- Aside from the hurdles there are no Canadian woman running in an individual sprint event.
From injuries, to restrictive standards, to coaching changes and even fatigue answers vary as to why Canada isn't sending athletes in individual track events. Excuses aside, however, the team - or lack thereof - that will represent Canada at the 2009 World Track & Field Championships shows just how far the sport has fallen in recent years.
A sport that once was Canada's most prolific at the Summer Olympics has won just 1 medal at the last three Olympic Games. Household names within the sport are non-existent, while membership levels within the sport are falling perhaps explaining why Canada will have only 5 athletes run an individual track event in Berlin.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Brain Drain
The overwhelming consensus of a recent study conducted by the Canadian Coaching Association of Canada was that Canada's coaches need to be paid more. Amongst the findings was that
more than half the men and women training Canada's current and future Olympians earn less than $20,000 annually from their primary coaching job, and another 15 per cent are volunteers.
Amongst a series of options "that might improve the situation for high performance coaches," was to pay them more.
Recognizing the dire financial straits placed upon Canada's coaches it is with little wonder that Canada's best young coaches are leaving the country for greener pastures.
In January of 2009 Kevin Tyler - arguably Canada's brightest track & field coach having led famed sprinters Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel and Caroline Muir to world stardom - accepted a job with UK Athletics as the strategic head of coaching and development. Some 6 months later Derek Everly - Tylers replacement in Canada - followed suit by accepting a job with UK Athletics. But don't think the exodus stops with the sport of Athletics. Triathlon coach Joel Filliol, who guided Simon Whitfield to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, was hired as Britain's head triathlon coach, while Peter Eriksson, who helped wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc to five gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing, was also scooped up by the British.
However, not everyone in Canadian sport is concerned. Gary Lunn, the federal minister for sport, noted "I don't think it's always just about money,(referring to the lack of money paid to Canadian Coaches). I've had these conversations with Alex (Baumman) and he completely supports me, that sometimes we need to find a better way." Maybe so, but in the meantime it appears anyways that Money talks and Canada's coaches are starting to listen.
more than half the men and women training Canada's current and future Olympians earn less than $20,000 annually from their primary coaching job, and another 15 per cent are volunteers.
Amongst a series of options "that might improve the situation for high performance coaches," was to pay them more.
Recognizing the dire financial straits placed upon Canada's coaches it is with little wonder that Canada's best young coaches are leaving the country for greener pastures.
In January of 2009 Kevin Tyler - arguably Canada's brightest track & field coach having led famed sprinters Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel and Caroline Muir to world stardom - accepted a job with UK Athletics as the strategic head of coaching and development. Some 6 months later Derek Everly - Tylers replacement in Canada - followed suit by accepting a job with UK Athletics. But don't think the exodus stops with the sport of Athletics. Triathlon coach Joel Filliol, who guided Simon Whitfield to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, was hired as Britain's head triathlon coach, while Peter Eriksson, who helped wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc to five gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing, was also scooped up by the British.
However, not everyone in Canadian sport is concerned. Gary Lunn, the federal minister for sport, noted "I don't think it's always just about money,(referring to the lack of money paid to Canadian Coaches). I've had these conversations with Alex (Baumman) and he completely supports me, that sometimes we need to find a better way." Maybe so, but in the meantime it appears anyways that Money talks and Canada's coaches are starting to listen.
The Emergence of Canadian Swimming?
A world record coupled with three medal winning performances by Canada’s National Swim Team at the recent 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships evoked memories of its glory days in the mid 80’s and early 90’s.
In an era where world record swims and gold medal winning performances seemed like a daily occurrence, Canada’s swim program fell upon hard times in the late 90’ and on into the 21st Century. Hitting rock bottom at the 2004 Olympic Games where no Canadian swimmer placed higher than fifth and only two Canadian swimmers posted best times Canada’s swim program was in need of new blood.
Following those now disastrous games, Swimming Canada hired internationally acclaimed Pierre Lafontaine with the sole purpose of restoring Canada’s swimming lore. A Canadian with a history of success in both the United States and Australia, Lafontaine brought energy and direction into a program that was rudderless in Athens.
Since 2004 Lafontaine has helped restore Canada’s club and national team while at the same time increasing the visibility of the sport to Corporate Canada. Cheerleader, ambassador, enforcer, and leader, Lafontaine is a man who seems to wear every hat imaginable within the organization. Couple that with an energy level that rivals that of a five year old child - Lafontaine’s imprint is starting to show.
Consider that Mike Brown won Canada’s first gold medal in over eight years in the sport of swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2007 Brent Hayden won Canada’s first swimming world championship in over 21 years. In 2008 Ryan Cochrane won Canada’s first Olympic medal in over eight years with a bronze medal swim in the 1,500m. And now at the 2009 World Aquatic Championships Canada finished the week long event with 2 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and a world record – not bad for a sport that many considered un-reparable only 5 years ago.
In an era where world record swims and gold medal winning performances seemed like a daily occurrence, Canada’s swim program fell upon hard times in the late 90’ and on into the 21st Century. Hitting rock bottom at the 2004 Olympic Games where no Canadian swimmer placed higher than fifth and only two Canadian swimmers posted best times Canada’s swim program was in need of new blood.
Following those now disastrous games, Swimming Canada hired internationally acclaimed Pierre Lafontaine with the sole purpose of restoring Canada’s swimming lore. A Canadian with a history of success in both the United States and Australia, Lafontaine brought energy and direction into a program that was rudderless in Athens.
Since 2004 Lafontaine has helped restore Canada’s club and national team while at the same time increasing the visibility of the sport to Corporate Canada. Cheerleader, ambassador, enforcer, and leader, Lafontaine is a man who seems to wear every hat imaginable within the organization. Couple that with an energy level that rivals that of a five year old child - Lafontaine’s imprint is starting to show.
Consider that Mike Brown won Canada’s first gold medal in over eight years in the sport of swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2007 Brent Hayden won Canada’s first swimming world championship in over 21 years. In 2008 Ryan Cochrane won Canada’s first Olympic medal in over eight years with a bronze medal swim in the 1,500m. And now at the 2009 World Aquatic Championships Canada finished the week long event with 2 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and a world record – not bad for a sport that many considered un-reparable only 5 years ago.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Shirt off their Backs
After witnessing their winter counterparts catapult to Olympic stardom with a third place finish in the overall medal count at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Canada's summer athletes started questioning, "Why not us?" However, glory takes money and support something Canada's winter athletes had an ambudence of heading into the 2006 and now the 2010 Olympic games.
At the heart of Canada's Winter Olympic successes was the Own the Podium (OTP)program, a radically new type of initiative that sought to place Canada in the top three of the medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics and on the medal podium in 2010 more often than had ever been accomplished before. A short year later, Canada’s winter sporting body achieved the first of its goals in Torino. Witnessing the success of their winter counterparts, Canada’s summer athletes soon began to ask, “What about us?”
In response, Canada's sporting brass implemented the Road to Excellence plan; a plan that, in essence, replicated the OTP program in every way except for one. The OTP Plan recieved every dime of its requested $110 million while the RTE plan plan recieved a measly $10 of its requested $510 million in funding. It wasn't until two years after its initial launch, that the federal government came forward and agreed to provide the RTE Plan with some monies - albeit a fraction ($72) of the requesed $510 million. And at that the program will now have to settle for a paltry $8 million in 2008-2009 before a continued source of funding arrives ($16 million in 2010 and $24 million in 2011 and 2012).
With the 2010 Games now only a few months away and the 2014 Winter Games on the horizon, Canada's winter brass is starting to look plan for life without an OTP Plan - (It was set to terminate following the conclusion of the Vancouver Games). And their sights? The $24 million in funding from Canada's RTE Program.
Following the 2010 Games Canada's RTE Plan and its summer athletes will be asked to share its $72 million in government funding with their winter counterparts leaving them with an even smaller pie to work with. Own the Podium it is not. And as for the success of Canada's Summer Athletes in 2012? Lets just hope that global warming is a myth. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow!
At the heart of Canada's Winter Olympic successes was the Own the Podium (OTP)program, a radically new type of initiative that sought to place Canada in the top three of the medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics and on the medal podium in 2010 more often than had ever been accomplished before. A short year later, Canada’s winter sporting body achieved the first of its goals in Torino. Witnessing the success of their winter counterparts, Canada’s summer athletes soon began to ask, “What about us?”
In response, Canada's sporting brass implemented the Road to Excellence plan; a plan that, in essence, replicated the OTP program in every way except for one. The OTP Plan recieved every dime of its requested $110 million while the RTE plan plan recieved a measly $10 of its requested $510 million in funding. It wasn't until two years after its initial launch, that the federal government came forward and agreed to provide the RTE Plan with some monies - albeit a fraction ($72) of the requesed $510 million. And at that the program will now have to settle for a paltry $8 million in 2008-2009 before a continued source of funding arrives ($16 million in 2010 and $24 million in 2011 and 2012).
With the 2010 Games now only a few months away and the 2014 Winter Games on the horizon, Canada's winter brass is starting to look plan for life without an OTP Plan - (It was set to terminate following the conclusion of the Vancouver Games). And their sights? The $24 million in funding from Canada's RTE Program.
Following the 2010 Games Canada's RTE Plan and its summer athletes will be asked to share its $72 million in government funding with their winter counterparts leaving them with an even smaller pie to work with. Own the Podium it is not. And as for the success of Canada's Summer Athletes in 2012? Lets just hope that global warming is a myth. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Voices from Oz
The COC Athletes Council representing the views of high-performance athletes, is tasked with reviewing and providing recommendations to the Canadian Olympic Committee on a range of issues that directly impact Olympic and Pan American Games hopefuls. It meets to discuss such issues as team selection and planning, funding allocation and how to best support Canadian athletes to help them achieve podium success at upcoming Olympic Games.
Following the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, six athletes were elected by their peers to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council to represent the concerns of Canada's amateur athletes over the next Olympic quadrennnial. Amongst those athletes is Iain Brambell - who is currently chair of the Athletes Council and has sat on the COC's Executive Committee since 2004, but are Canada's amateur athletes benefiting?
Brambell, is currently residing in Australia, and is over 7, 000 miles and a half a world away from the issues facing Canada's amateur athletes. With Brambell now consumed with matters in Australia and Canada's amateur athletes facing a number of important issues isn't it about time Brambell did the honorable thing and resign from his position? After all, one has to wonder if Brambell would have been re-elected to the council , if Canada's amateur athletes were informed that he was setting up shop in Australia after the Beijing Games.
Following the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, six athletes were elected by their peers to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council to represent the concerns of Canada's amateur athletes over the next Olympic quadrennnial. Amongst those athletes is Iain Brambell - who is currently chair of the Athletes Council and has sat on the COC's Executive Committee since 2004, but are Canada's amateur athletes benefiting?
Brambell, is currently residing in Australia, and is over 7, 000 miles and a half a world away from the issues facing Canada's amateur athletes. With Brambell now consumed with matters in Australia and Canada's amateur athletes facing a number of important issues isn't it about time Brambell did the honorable thing and resign from his position? After all, one has to wonder if Brambell would have been re-elected to the council , if Canada's amateur athletes were informed that he was setting up shop in Australia after the Beijing Games.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Solving the Ovals Owes
With the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games now only a few months away Canadian athletes are in full preparation mode. The training is now a little more intense, the focus a little sharper and the time frame a little shorter with each passing day. At the heart of this final prepatory push is a sporting system that gives athletes access to sporting facilities more often than ever before. However, in the face a global recession unforseen in this land for over 80 years sporting facilities are closing their doors as oppossed to opening them. This situation is particulary dire at the Olympic Oval in Calgary where Canada's National Speed Skating Team is training.
Over 50% of the Olympic Oval's operating budget is derived from WinSport Canada, an organization who has seen over $40 million dollars in legacy funds vanish in the wake of the 2008 stock market meltdown. The net effect is that the operating budget of the Olympic Oval has been cut from $3.9 million to $2.1 million resulting in the facility having to close its doors for 7 of the next 12 months. That means some of Canada's top medal hopefuls will have to wait until September fo 2009 to set foot on the fastest track in the world. The facility normally opens in July and the delay could cost Canada's Speed Skating Team medals in Vancouver, unless money can be found and fast.
Fortunately, $22 million in readily available through the Own the Podium Program - and could help alleviate the economic woes faced by the Oval and its tenants . The $110 million dollar Own the Podium Program, funded in part by the federal government was introduced in 2005 to give Canada's athletes the resources they need to succeed at the 2010 Olympics. With an annual budget of $22 million per annum one would could argue that the problems facing Canada's Speed Skaters could be readily solved by a program whose very purpose was to give athletes the resources they need to win in Vancouver. Why is it then than Canada's Speed Skaters continue to beg?
Over 50% of the Olympic Oval's operating budget is derived from WinSport Canada, an organization who has seen over $40 million dollars in legacy funds vanish in the wake of the 2008 stock market meltdown. The net effect is that the operating budget of the Olympic Oval has been cut from $3.9 million to $2.1 million resulting in the facility having to close its doors for 7 of the next 12 months. That means some of Canada's top medal hopefuls will have to wait until September fo 2009 to set foot on the fastest track in the world. The facility normally opens in July and the delay could cost Canada's Speed Skating Team medals in Vancouver, unless money can be found and fast.
Fortunately, $22 million in readily available through the Own the Podium Program - and could help alleviate the economic woes faced by the Oval and its tenants . The $110 million dollar Own the Podium Program, funded in part by the federal government was introduced in 2005 to give Canada's athletes the resources they need to succeed at the 2010 Olympics. With an annual budget of $22 million per annum one would could argue that the problems facing Canada's Speed Skaters could be readily solved by a program whose very purpose was to give athletes the resources they need to win in Vancouver. Why is it then than Canada's Speed Skaters continue to beg?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Could the Global Recession affect Calgary's Olympic Legacy?
The 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics not only left a lasting imprint on the city of Calgary, it also created the foundation for the creation of a sporting institute where all of Canada’s best winter athletes could train in one location. The organization responsible for maintaining the facilities from these Games is WinSport Canada.
Committing the legacy of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games WinSport Canada has evolved into one premier sport-development organizations in the world. Consider that of the 156 Canadian athletes who competed at the 2002 Winter Games, 85 of them were from Alberta. At the 2006 Torino Games, 66% of Canada's medalists were Alberta based. And the facilities these athletes trained on were managed by WinSport Canada.
However, with the global economic downturn and a legacy fund tied to equity markets, WinSport Canada has lost 20% of its total value since 2007 and is now struggling to find the funds to pay for the day to day operations of the Olympic Oval and Canada Olympic Park. The net effect is that WinSport is trimming its budgets at its facilities. While the effect of these cuts will unlikely be seen in Vancouver it is possible that with in 2014 and beyond - the Calgary legacy and the subsequent success of Alberta based athletes may be coming to an end.
Committing the legacy of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games WinSport Canada has evolved into one premier sport-development organizations in the world. Consider that of the 156 Canadian athletes who competed at the 2002 Winter Games, 85 of them were from Alberta. At the 2006 Torino Games, 66% of Canada's medalists were Alberta based. And the facilities these athletes trained on were managed by WinSport Canada.
However, with the global economic downturn and a legacy fund tied to equity markets, WinSport Canada has lost 20% of its total value since 2007 and is now struggling to find the funds to pay for the day to day operations of the Olympic Oval and Canada Olympic Park. The net effect is that WinSport is trimming its budgets at its facilities. While the effect of these cuts will unlikely be seen in Vancouver it is possible that with in 2014 and beyond - the Calgary legacy and the subsequent success of Alberta based athletes may be coming to an end.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Four Year Gap
Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Canadian flag raised at a major international sporting event in your honor? Most Candians have. In fact the dream is played out on a daily basis in backyards, arenas, playgrounds, and gymnasiums from coast to coast across Canada where young and old alike envision scoring that last minute goal, skating the perfect program, breaking the world record, and in the process standing atop the podium as an adoring country watches their every move. For many it is just that. A dream. But, for a fortunate few it is a lifestyle where an elite few with little regard for fame or money carry out their dream on a daily basis in virtual obscurity to the mainstream public.
It isn't until that five ring spectacle known as the Olympic Games approaches does the Canadian public begin to take notice of this dedicated group. And then lawyers, doctors, bankers, teachers, journalists and every one else in between become instantaneous experts on the successes and failures of Canada's amateur sport athletes and teams. Then once the cauldron has been extinguished, the chairs have been put away, and the two-week sporting spectacle comes to a conclusion the analysis concludes, the water cooler arguments are put on the shelf and Canada's amateur athletes return to their modest lifetstyle.
This blog attempts to go beyond the rings by examining the issues that Canada's amateur athletes face as they pursue that childhood dream that lives within all of us. Step inside Canada's amateur sport system and discover for yourself what traspires between the extinguishing of one cauldron and the lighting of another.
It isn't until that five ring spectacle known as the Olympic Games approaches does the Canadian public begin to take notice of this dedicated group. And then lawyers, doctors, bankers, teachers, journalists and every one else in between become instantaneous experts on the successes and failures of Canada's amateur sport athletes and teams. Then once the cauldron has been extinguished, the chairs have been put away, and the two-week sporting spectacle comes to a conclusion the analysis concludes, the water cooler arguments are put on the shelf and Canada's amateur athletes return to their modest lifetstyle.
This blog attempts to go beyond the rings by examining the issues that Canada's amateur athletes face as they pursue that childhood dream that lives within all of us. Step inside Canada's amateur sport system and discover for yourself what traspires between the extinguishing of one cauldron and the lighting of another.
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