Rudge Resigns

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced today that Chris Rudge has resigned from his position of Chief Executive Officer.

Rudge who has held the role since 2003 will officially step down on April 15, 2010.

Since joining the organization in 2003 the performance of Canada's athletes on the Olympic Scene has improved. Canada's amateur athletes finished the Vancouver 2010 Games with an Olympic record 14 Olympic gold medals and a Canadian record 26 Winter Olympic Medals.


Changing attitudes within the COC, and creating programs to give the athletes the support they need, are two of the achievements Rudge feels the most pride over.


"At one time when I first got here, I think we were trying to be all things to all people," he said. "The COC was trying to do too much without focusing on three or four key priorities or objectives. I think we are a much more focused organization now on what we are about. Success in sport and our contribution to success in sport."


However, not unlike the business world who today is asked to judge a company CEO via the long term profitability of a firm as opposed to its short term share price , Rudge's impact on amateur sport should not be judged today but on where amateur sport is in 2020.


This after all is a man who was once President of Quebecor Printing Canada and precided over the acquistion of World Color Press in 1999 making the company the second largest printing company in the world . Some 9 years later Quebecor filed for Bankruptcy protection from its creditors.


Some feel that Rudge's impact on amateur sport will follow a similar path as that of Quebecor Printing. Paul Henderson of the IOC says that Rudge has sacrificed the future of amateur sport here in Canada by focusing on short term success as opposed to long term athlete development.


Time will tell. No doubt Canada's athletes were succesful in Vancouver - lets just hope they continue that success into 2020 and beyond. As Pat Fiacco mayor of the City of Regina and a high ranking boxing official notes, we can "Own the Podium" today but who will own it in Rio?"