March 27/07 10:57 am - COC Calls on Federal Government to Support Summer Sport Program

Posted by Editor on 03/27/07
 

COC Calls on Federal Government to Support Summer Sport Program

Following its meeting this weekend in Whistler, B.C., the Executive Committee of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) added the weight of its voice to call on the Harper Government to invest in the Road to Excellence summer sport program.

"The Executive Committee unanimously expresses its disappointment that the federal budget did not include additional support to Canada's summer athletes," said COC President Michael Chambers. "We call on the federal government to invest in Canada's Olympic summer athletes as clearly laid out in the Road to Excellence summer sport program. Canada's summer athletes deserve the same opportunity to achieve international success as their winter counterparts, who received additional government support through the successful Own the Podium 2010 program."

"Summer sport has waited long enough for additional funding and can't wait any longer," said Iain Brambell, Chair of the COC's Athletes' Council, a two-time Olympian in rowing and a hopeful for the 2008 Olympic team. "With the Olympic Games in Beijing less than 18 months away, summer athletes need additional training and competition support now."

The COC's Executive Committee is made up of representatives from various sport backgrounds, including both summer and winter National Sport Federations, and Olympians representing the organization's Athletes' Council.

The Road To Excellence Business Plan, released in June 2006, was developed by the 28 Olympic and Paralympic summer sports, the COC, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Sport Canada as an initial action plan to start the process of creating a more coordinated, effective Canadian sport system resulting in world-class programs, policies and financing that will help Canada achieve podium success. The plan targets a top 16 placing for Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and a top 12 placing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.