December 4/00 9:07 am - New Store, Ontario Rider Award

Posted by Editor on 12/4/00
 

New CC Store Goes Live

We are pleased to open the newest version of the CC Store, our online store for cycling products. Just click on the button in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Currently there are over 150 items in the store, ranging from videos to clothing to cycling art. We will be adding more items as the days and weeks go by. So please explore the store.


London Cyclist Receives Development Grant
(courtesy SAO)

Katherine Lobodzinski, a young local athlete, is among the first 36 recipients of the new Jim Worrall Athletes' Development Fund grant for promising young amateur athletes in Ontario. Katherine received her $1,000 grant at a presentation at the Sport Alliance of Ontario in Toronto on December 1.

Katherine was nominated by the Ontario Cycling Association for her achievements in Cycling. Katherine is one of only four junior downhill mountain bikers in Canada, and the best. She placed 12th in a field of 20 at the 2000 World Championships in a field of 20..

The Jim Worrall Fund was created this year by the Sport Alliance of Ontario in cooperation with the Provincial Sports Organizations Council, to assist young Ontario athletes in their development by covering expenses such as transportation, accommodation, equipment, clothing, and registration fees to competitions, clinics, and camps. Athletes under 18 years of age (and disabled athletes of any age) are eligible for funding under the programme.

The Fund is named in honour of James Worrall, OC, QC, IOC, an outstanding member of Ontario's sport community. Now 86, Mr. Worrall served for many years as Canadian member of the International Olympic Committee, and was Canada's flagbearer at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He maintains an active interest in amateur sport development, and presented the grants to the 18 young athletes who participated in the ceremony.

In its first year of operation, the Jim Worrall Fund has disbursed $36,000 in grants. A similar amount is expected available in 2001. Athletes who wish to apply for grants in 2001 may do so via their Provincial Sport Organizations. A copy of the application form is available on the SAO website at www.sportalliance.com. Deadline for 2001 applications is March 31, 2001.

The Provincial Sport Organizations Council, founded in 1999, is an organization whose mandate is to coordinate the activities and interests of the 83 provincial and multi-sport organizations. It provides a consolidated focus for cooperation between Provincial Sport Organizations in Ontario.

The Sport Alliance of Ontario (SAO) is a private, non-profit organization representative of provincial sport organizations, parks and recreation agencies, scholastic sport and professional sport administrators. Our objective is to improve the experience of sport for each participant. The SAO's efforts are aided by the Provincial Sport Organizations Council, Ontario University Athletic Association, Ontario College Athletic Association, Ontario Physical Health and Education Association and Parks and Recreation Ontario.

Photo - Katherine Lobodzinski of London receives her Jim Worrall Athletes' Fund grant check from Mr. Worrall at a ceremony in Toronto. Standing (L to R): Tim Dawkins, PSOC Director, Rita Sue Bolton and Mike Harris, SAO Directors.