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.
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