Post by lacquement on May 14, 2004 20:36:23 GMT -5
Canadian government gives $20 million-financial boost to amateur athletes
www.hispeed.rogers.com/news/sports/story.jsp?cid=s051475A
for those of you who can't access the rogers hispeed website:
TORONTO (CP) - While some political observers question the timing of the announcement, Canada's Olympic athletes say they're pleased with Friday's $20-million financial boost from Ottawa.
"It's a good start," said former Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett, who won silver in 1984 and bronze at the '92 and '96 Games. "It's something that I think the community has called for. It's not every day you get a 20 per cent increase."
Stan Keyes, the Minister of State for Sport, and Minister of Canadian Heritage Helene Chalifour Scherrer, announced the investment at news conferences in Toronto and Quebec City.
"The government of Canada is dedicated to supported Canada's athletes and coaches in their achievement of excellent in sport," Keyes said.
The $20 million is a one-year investment in the Canadian sport system for high performance athletes. It is in addition to the $30 million announced recently in the federal budget, and brings the government's total investment to $120 million for 2004-05, its highest ever.
Harnett, a director of development for the not-for-profit sport management organization Sport Alliance of Ontario, said Canada's athletes can use all the money they can get.
"It would have been nice for it to have been a little more dramatic, but at the same time, today we're $20 million richer," Harnett said. "We have a system that needs some support, it really does."
Canadian beach volleyball star Mark Heese hopes the funding will lead to more podium visits at future Games.
"There are a lot of athletes out there that have big plans, not only for this year in Athens but down the road and moving forward toward 2010, Heese said.
"I think it's a strong message to the athletes to keep going. It's not just a two-month thing for Athens, I think it's encouraging for all the athletes."
The government said the funding will be used to strengthen athlete development by supporting coaches, sport organizations, training centres and other elements like travel costs.
The response from members of Canada's sports community was positive.
"We commend Minister Keyes for his efforts to support high-performance athletes and sport in Canada, and thank the government for their action in recognizing that support for our athletes is crucial for success," Chris Rudge, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said in a release.
Representatives from the sports community had appealed to the government for an increase of at least $50 million for sport in the 2004 federal budget in March, and had expressed disappointment when the government didn't comply.
"This new money responds to the recent cross-Canada consultations on high-performance sport," said Victor Lachance, senior leader of Sport Matters, a lobby group that represents more than 60 national and provincial organizations.
However, many political observers are shaking their heads at the timing of the announcement. Some feel it's a response to recent criticism of the federal Liberals and that Ottawa is merely shoving money out the door with an election call expected in days.
"Yes, people can be cynical about it," Keyes said. "But I choose to say that the government is responding to the work that we've done.
"I made a promise when I became the minister of sport I was going to dive in with both feet. I was going to have a full understanding of sport, I was going to consult with all the players and I was going to respond to those consultations immediately.
"That was my promise and I have fulfilled that promise to the sport community in Canada."
The funding will be targeted to sports in which athletes have the potential to achieve podium results.
Keyes added the investment is a building block on the road to the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"It's important for our high-performance athletes, Keyes said. "We want them to be the best in the world, we want them to compete on a level playing field with other athletes."
GREGORY STRONG
© The Canadian Press, 2003
www.hispeed.rogers.com/news/sports/story.jsp?cid=s051475A
for those of you who can't access the rogers hispeed website:
TORONTO (CP) - While some political observers question the timing of the announcement, Canada's Olympic athletes say they're pleased with Friday's $20-million financial boost from Ottawa.
"It's a good start," said former Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett, who won silver in 1984 and bronze at the '92 and '96 Games. "It's something that I think the community has called for. It's not every day you get a 20 per cent increase."
Stan Keyes, the Minister of State for Sport, and Minister of Canadian Heritage Helene Chalifour Scherrer, announced the investment at news conferences in Toronto and Quebec City.
"The government of Canada is dedicated to supported Canada's athletes and coaches in their achievement of excellent in sport," Keyes said.
The $20 million is a one-year investment in the Canadian sport system for high performance athletes. It is in addition to the $30 million announced recently in the federal budget, and brings the government's total investment to $120 million for 2004-05, its highest ever.
Harnett, a director of development for the not-for-profit sport management organization Sport Alliance of Ontario, said Canada's athletes can use all the money they can get.
"It would have been nice for it to have been a little more dramatic, but at the same time, today we're $20 million richer," Harnett said. "We have a system that needs some support, it really does."
Canadian beach volleyball star Mark Heese hopes the funding will lead to more podium visits at future Games.
"There are a lot of athletes out there that have big plans, not only for this year in Athens but down the road and moving forward toward 2010, Heese said.
"I think it's a strong message to the athletes to keep going. It's not just a two-month thing for Athens, I think it's encouraging for all the athletes."
The government said the funding will be used to strengthen athlete development by supporting coaches, sport organizations, training centres and other elements like travel costs.
The response from members of Canada's sports community was positive.
"We commend Minister Keyes for his efforts to support high-performance athletes and sport in Canada, and thank the government for their action in recognizing that support for our athletes is crucial for success," Chris Rudge, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said in a release.
Representatives from the sports community had appealed to the government for an increase of at least $50 million for sport in the 2004 federal budget in March, and had expressed disappointment when the government didn't comply.
"This new money responds to the recent cross-Canada consultations on high-performance sport," said Victor Lachance, senior leader of Sport Matters, a lobby group that represents more than 60 national and provincial organizations.
However, many political observers are shaking their heads at the timing of the announcement. Some feel it's a response to recent criticism of the federal Liberals and that Ottawa is merely shoving money out the door with an election call expected in days.
"Yes, people can be cynical about it," Keyes said. "But I choose to say that the government is responding to the work that we've done.
"I made a promise when I became the minister of sport I was going to dive in with both feet. I was going to have a full understanding of sport, I was going to consult with all the players and I was going to respond to those consultations immediately.
"That was my promise and I have fulfilled that promise to the sport community in Canada."
The funding will be targeted to sports in which athletes have the potential to achieve podium results.
Keyes added the investment is a building block on the road to the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"It's important for our high-performance athletes, Keyes said. "We want them to be the best in the world, we want them to compete on a level playing field with other athletes."
GREGORY STRONG
© The Canadian Press, 2003