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.
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