A Political Play

With a record setting performance at the 2010 Olympics still in the back of most Canadian minds, it is expected that Steven Harper will announce a two fold increase in government funding towards the Winter Own the Podium Program in tomorrow's budget.

Amateur sport enthusiasts applaud the move, however, this political play appears to be nothing more than a way for the Tory government to garner votes in an upcoming federal election.

For the past seven years Canada's amateur sport system has devoted almost every available resource towards Canada's Winter Sport system. From the construction of high performance facilities in Vancouver, increased sponsorship opportunities for our winter athletes, and of course the Own the Podium program - when Canada's winter sport system asks they recieve. And so when Canada's winter sports community asks for $22 million, the federal government steps up and delivers in a matter of days.

Comparatively, on the summer side of the equation the opportunities don't exist. It took two and 1/2 years of intense lobbying for the federal government to buy into the summer verson of the Own the Podium program. In 2008, it's first year of operation the federal government finaced the Summer Own the Podium program to the tune of $8 million dollars - less than 10% of what was initially requested. Some two years later Canada's Summer Own the Podium Plan is still underfunded. Financing for the program today is less than 50% of what was originally recommended back in 2006.

Meanwhile when the Own the Podium idea was still in its infancy Canada's winter sports community sought $110 million back in 2005. It recieved $120 million.

No one is suggesting that funding to the Winter Own the Podium program be reduced, however with the 2010 Games now complete shouldn't the focus be on providing our summer athletes with the necessary funds to be succesful in London.

Unfortunatly, Summer Olympians don't garner many votes these days. Hot off a record setting Olympics where Canadians rallied around their heroes it makes political sense to give our winter athletes what they want. For everyone else in Canada's amateur sports sytem.....get used to it.