Heatstroke

Things I think

2012-01-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

Interesting article in the Winnipeg Free Press today about how Mariam Chamilova Canada's best rhythmic gymnast may not compete at the 2012 Olympics on account of red tape and bureaucracy. Heatstroke admits to knowing very little about Rhythmic Gymnastics and whether Mariam C is as dominant as the article references. Regardless, Heatstroke argues that red tape and bureaucracy should not get in the way of sending our best athletes to the Olympics. Lets hope that Gymnastics Canada gets this rights thus ensuring that Canada's best team is competing in London.

Heatstroke is still looking for an explanation regarding the 6 team sports that were selected for Own the Podium funding. Some things just don't make sense. It is interesting to note, however, that the sports that were selected for funding cater to white upper class athletes while other team sports such as men's basketball and soccer cater to a largely blue collar and minority segment of the Canadian population. When one considers that once dominant sports like boxing and wrestling (also appealing to minority based athletes) are now barely able to sustain their programs on account of funding cutbacks one wonders if Own the Podium officials might be looking to shut out athletic opportunities for individuals of colour and socio-economic background. Conspiracy theory maybe, but every sport that largely caters to white middle class athletes has benefited from Own the Podium funding including rowing, canoe/kayak, gymnastics, diving, swimming, track & field, sailing and volleyball. Meanwhile weight lifting, wrestling (men), boxing (men), judo (men), basketball, soccer have seen their funding slashed.

Congrats to Brian Williams for being awarded the Order of Canada. Is there another broadcaster in North America that has done more for amateur sport than Brian. Heatstroke can't think of one.

Please Explain

2012-01-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

In an effort to end Canada's nearly 80 year drought Sport Canada officials announced increased funding to a select number of team sports in preparation for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Canada you see has not won an Olympic medal of any colour in a team sport since Canada's men's basketball team won silver in 1936. Hoping to reverse this trend Sport Canada announced the Summer Olympic Team Sport Initiative. As part of this initiative the Own the Podium program has identified 6 sports that will benefit from this program; they are: Men's and Women's Field Hockey, Women's Basketball, Men's Water polo, and Women's Rugby 7's. Noticeably absent from this list: Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Men's Basketball, and Women's Water-polo

Consider the following

Canada's Women's soccer team narrowly lost to the United States in the quarterfinals at the 2008 Olympic Games in the process coming the closest of any Canadian team (at the Summer Olympics) in the last 20 years to win an Olympic medal. For the better part of the decade they have been ranked as low as fourth by FIFA (the sport's governing body) and are currently the defending Pan-American Games Champion. Meanwhile, in Men's Field Hockey odds are that they will not qualify for the Olympic Games in 2012 and are currently not ranked in the top 10 in the world.

Canada has not had a Men's Volleyball team compete in the Olympics since 1996 and this is unlikely to change anytime soon. Meanwhile Canada is beginning to produce some incredible young talent in the sport of basketball including Tristan Thompson a recent first round draft pick in the NBA, and NCAA superstar Andy Rautins of Syracuse who is also playing in the NBA.

Canada's Men's Waterpolo team qualified for the Olympic Games in 2008 for the first time since 1996. They finished 11th. Further, in the past 15 years they have finished in the top ten at the World Championships once. On the other side of the spectrum, Canada's Women's Waterpolo team failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics however, they qualified for both the 2004 and 2000 Olympic Games. At the 2005 World Championships in Montreal they came 3rd. They finished 8th at the 2011 World Championships and second at second at the 2009 World Championships. It is however the men who get the needed funding from Own the Podium

Hopefully Heatstroke is not the only one scratching his head over these decisions. Someone within Own the Podium please explain.

The Other Side

2012-01-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

Gymnastics Canada suffered a gut wrenching loss this past weekend. Canada's men's gymnastics team was in a last chance qualifier to determine the remaining four countries to qualify for the Olympic Games. Unfortunately for Canada the team finished 1/2 a point back of fourth and as a result will watch the Olympic Games unfold from Canada.

Watching the Olympic Games Heatstroke wonders aloud as to how often we catch ourselves thinking "what must it feel like to come fourth?" The years of preparation, the training and the sacrifice only to come one placing away from the Olympic podium. But what about those within Gymnastic Canada who too put for the effort, the sacrifice and the training only to never make it to the Olympic Games.

Sport is brutal. Either you win or you don't. There is no grey area. For that we love it. But there is a human component to it, and today Heatstroke can only imagine what those within Gymnastics Canada must be feeling.

Mr. Martin

2012-01-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

There was a time when the sport of curling was the laughing stock of amateur sport. The sport's stars were often recognized more for their beer guts than their talents, and the sport largely catered to an aging demographic. Oh how times have changed.

Today, high performance curlers follow a regimented training program while the sport itself is going through a resurgence. Turn on the television lately. It is impossible to go through a week without seeing some sort of curling competition featured on TSN or some local broadcaster. There are made for t.v events of all varieties Skins Games, Men vs Women Contests, North America vs the World Challenges and of course there remains the sports staples, the Brier and Scott Tournament of Hearts.

Then there are the athletes themselves who understand marketing and in turn brands want to be affiliated with the athletes. For an example of this phenomenon look no further than Mr. Martin and his team. For many events Martin and his team arrive a day early and make the media rounds or put on a clinic for juniors, all the aim of promoting their sponsors. No wonder then that Mr. Martin and his group are sponsored by the likes of H & R Block and Uncle Ben's.

Meanwhile, in many other amateur sports - the athletes themselves remain committed to the training but the sports themselves are dying. Swimming, Diving, Wrestling, Athletics and countless others are afterthoughts for television networks and athletes do little to secure advertising dollars. For an example of this look at Rowing Canada. In two short weeks Rowing Canada officials will descend on Canada's most populous city for four days, but Heatstroke doubts very seriously that anyone will take the time to travel to a local club to teach a group of high school athletes.

Still wondering why curling is prospering.

Pan-Am Hope?

2012-01-04T20:39:00.001-08:00

No province has done more for amateur sport in the past five year than Ontario. Sure British-Columbia hosted arguably the most successful Winter Olympic Games ever. And true Alberta using the legacy from the 1988 Winter Games has been instrumental in the development of our amateur athletes, but neither B.C nor Alberta can lay claim to the efforts put forth by Ontario.

Worried about the dwindling number of Ontario residents representing Canada on the international scene the McGuinty government introduced the Quest for Gold Funding Program in 2006. Under the Quest for Gold Program the Ontario Government has provided over $42 in direct financial assistance over the past five years to its amateur athletes. Furthermore, in 2010 the Ontario Government was awarded the 2015 Pan-Am Games and with it committed a further $1.4Billion dollars towards amateur sport facilities over the next five years. Unfortunately it appears that the sporting bubble may be bursting.

Reports are that the Ontario government is facing a $16Billion Dollar deficit in 2012 and with Moody's threading to downgrade Ontario's bonds, the province is under immense pressure to cut its deficit, and rest assured sport will be one of the first programs on the chopping block. Secondly a report from the Toronto Sun shows that the 2015 Pan-Am Games Bid is facing cost overruns in excess of $2.0Billion dollars. Reports are that the cost overruns has some wondering if the government should not consider scaling back some facilities and doubling up on others (I.E have Gymnastics and wrestling in the same facility). If reports are in fact true, the legacy from the 2015 Pan-am Games may not be as great as some were hoping.

With cost overruns and a provincial government looking for ways to slash its budget Ontario's sporting industry could be facing serious cutbacks here shortly. Until these two things happen however, Ontario's amateur athletes should acknowledge the efforts of its government to showcase amateur sport in Canada's most populous province.

Imagine

2011-12-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine for a second. You are the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Own the Podium Canada (Seriously - Own the Podium is presently looking for a CEO to fill this role). Your job is to increase Canada's medal haul at the 2012 Olympic Games so that we finish in the top twelve in the overall medal count. You have millions of dollars at your disposal and have exactly four years to complete this daunting task. What would you do?

What would I do? I would look at Canada's culture and examine sports that are the very heart of the Canadian pshyche. I would divert monies to sports that are medal rich at a given Olympiad; implying they have a large number of medals at their disposal. And I would divert monies to sports that have proven success at one period of time, that may have fallen on hard times in the past couple of years on account of government cutbacks. I would look at putting money into boxing and men's wrestling.

In the 1990's these two sports won a total of 5 Olympic medals, but for one reason or another in the past 10 years have had their funding slashed on account of cutbacks. Furthermore, Own the Podium sees little opportunity for future Olympic medals (Heatstroke disagrees but we digress) in these disciplines.

Back to reality. In 2008 Own the Podium felt that the best way to increase Canada's medal count at future Olympiads was to funnel monies to sports that had a record Olympiad and at best could match their medal count in 2012. Heatstroke won't name the sports specifically, but does note that sports that receive the largest piece of the funding pie will be hard pressed to match - let alone beat their medal haul in 2008.

Will it work? Let the 2012 Olympic Games be the true test.

2012 - An Olympic Odyssey

2011-12-28T20:04:00.000-08:00

In a few short hours the book will be closed on 2011, and a new one will start on 2012. For those in Canada's amateur sport community the hope is that the story on Canada's Olympic Team will read a Top 12 finish at the London Olympics. No one knows wether or not this is medal tally is possible but those within the know say that Canada will come a little short of reaching its goal.

According to a Globe & Mail report Lucian Barrro an Italian Sports Official predicts that Canada will finish the games with 16 medals, 5 of which will be gold, to finish 18th overall in the medal standing. A USA report predicts much the same with Canada winning 18 medals - 6 of which are gold to finish 17th overall.

Projected Gold Medallists for Canada include

Mary Spencer - Boxing - A three time world champion and arguably Canada's best chance for gold in 2012

Tara Whitten - Cycling - A two time world champion in the Omnion - and a certain hope for Canada in London.

Catherine Pendrel - Mountain Biking - Narrowly lost Bronze in 2008. She is know hoping to win gold in 2012 and enters the Games as the defending world champion in the sport.

Roseline Filion / Meaghan Benfelto - Diving - Having been together for 6+ years, the two hope to put their experience to work in 2012

Brent Hayden - Freestyle Swimming - Looking to avenge a poor performance in 2008, Brent enters 2012 as the World Champion in the 100m Freestyle

Ryan Cochrane - Canada's lone medallist in the pool in 2008, Ryan looks to upgrade his medal this year.

Heatstroke is proud of all of Canada's amateur athletes that will compete in London, but once again wonders aloud as to where Canada's minority athletes have gone - especially amongst our males. 2012 is shaping up once again, to be the 5th consecutive Olympiad where Canada's male medallists will all be white anglo saxon.

Redford's Tax

2011-12-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, Alberta Premier Alison Redford announced that she was contemplating a "sin" tax hike on booze and tobacco sales. While seen as an instant cash grab by most Albertans, Redford announced that the proposed tax hike was an effort by the Alberta Government to promote health and fitness in the Wild Rose Province.

“Albertans are really sensible. They want to be healthy, they want to be safe and they want government to take some leadership and say: ‘You know what, we’re going to make some choices and these choices are going to be conducive to building a safer and a healthier community where we’re able to make sure we have good programs in place and everyone in society can thrive".

Albertans know better. In 2010 the Alberta Government cut sport funding to the Health and Wellness agency, The Alberta Sport Recreation Parks and Wellness Foundation (ASRPWF) by 15%. Under Redford's new tax proposal there is no mention of restoring funding to the ASRPWF to pre-2010 levels. If the Redford government was truly serious about Health a proposed tax hike would be accompanied by a statement regarding increased funding to health and wellness. Unfortunately, once again Redford's comment was just an another example as to how government uses sport for its own self serving interests like tax hikes.

Alberta is not alone. In 2011 the Ontario Government released a comprehensive document detailing as to how the Province of Ontario would eliminate tobacco consumption and in turn make Ontario the healthiest province in the country. What was lost was not one new $ in sport funding accompanied the statement. Presently the Ontario government provides a $50 tax credit for fitness related costs to residents of Canada's most populous province. Wouldn't it be nice if the Ontario government was truly serious about the health and welfare of its citizens by offering a $1,500 tax credit and increased funding to school programs. Heatstroke thinks so.

Redford are you listening.

Bobbie Rosenfeld

2011-12-16T18:48:00.001-08:00

In a few days sports writers across the country will come together to announce Canada's Female Athlete of the Year and the winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award. But to whom should the award go to.

Likely Winner

Christine Sinclair - Who could forget Christine's performance at the 2011 World Cup of Soccer, who with a broken nose scored a last minute goal to put Canada in a position to beat the defending World Champion Germany. However what is lost on most voters is that Canada's performance at this event was disappointing to say the least. Canada returned home from the 16 team tournament having failed to win a single game prompting the resignation of the team's coach Caroline Morace. The captain of this team was Ms. Sinclair.

My Vote

Mary Spencer - Mary is a World Champion in two separate weight classes in the sport of boxing. At the 2011 Pan-American Games she walked through her competition, and heading into London is a medal favourite for Canada. Results aside however, Mary's success in the sport is even more impressive when someone considers the state of boxing in this country. Once a powerhouse in the sport Canada, for the first time in its history, may fail to qualify a single male boxer for the Olympic Games in London. In the last 10 years the sport has seen a dramatic reduction in sport funding, and is now but a shadow of its former self. Which brings us back to Mary. Her success comes despite a sporting organization that lacks funding, coaches and facilities to train Olympic class athletes.

Boxing has fallen on hard times, but Heatstroke believes that the things are improving within the sport. Pat Fiacco - The mayor of Regina and a long time volunteer in the sport was recently elected president of the organization. With Fiacco now overseeing matters he has established a plan that will see the sport return to glory. Lets hope so, as Heatstroke believes that Canada cannot fulfill its objectives under the Own the Podium program without success from the sport of boxing

I'll have what they are having

2011-12-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

Athletics Canada recently released its selection guidelines for athletes wishing to participate at the 2012 Olympics. While the news release garnered little by way of publicity, the release itself has Heatstroke wanting to know if Athletics Canada is in touch with reality when they state the following.

"Athletics Canada's objectives for the 2012 Olympic Games include improving on the country ranking, number of overall medals, top 8 and top 12 finishes from recent Olympic Games and World Championships. "Our results at the 2008 Olympic Games (in Beijing) were a clear improvement over Sydney and Athens, we're looking at building on this success and we expect more in London,"

At the 2008 Olympics, in the sport of Track & Field, Canada finished with 1 top 3 finish. 5 top 8 finishes and 8 top 12 finishes to finish 16th overall in IAAF's overall ranking. Heading into the 2012 Olympics Canada finished with one top three finish at the 2011 World Championships (Dylan Armstrong) and after that did have a single athlete finish in the top 8 of their respective event and had only 1 other athlete (Jessica Zelinka) crack the top 10. Having witnessed these results while observing the optimism within Athletics Canada I think I will have what those in Athletics Canada are having.

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Patrick Chan was awarded Canada's Male athlete of the Year for 2011, making Chan the fourth skater in Canadian history to be given this award. However, Heatstroke wonders as to why the award was not given to Dylan Armstrong. True, Chan won the world championship in 2011, while Armstrong finished second. However, Armstrong was the first Canadian to have ever one a medal at a world championship in a throw event, he won the Diamond League Title in 2011 and did it in a sport that has a much larger field of competition that does figure skating.

Armstrong is Heatstroke's male athlete of the Year for 2011.

LTAD.....

2011-12-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) seems to be the rage these days. We hear about it all the time as all sports are committing thousands of dollars to implement it's key recommendations. But are they, and should they? In Timbits hockey, soccer, basketball and so forth the emphasis is on skill development, games are kept to a minimum and when games are played no one keeps score. After all the "the first goal is about having fun." But no one has ever said that practice is fun and if you were to talk to my 5 year old boy he would say that practice is boring, and all he wants to do is play games. Kids as I see them thrive in a sort of competitive environment wether it be game of chase, a race or simply a game of tag.

Interesting enough however, once youngsters leave the confines of Timbit sports it is open season. The hockey season for 7 & 8 year old kids is now a 10 month affair with many kids required to participate in both on and off ice activities. At the Blackfoot Hockey Association in Calgary, Alberta 7 year old boys who are fortunate enough to make the Novice I Team have dry land training no less than once per week. I doubt it is much different in hockey associations across the country with parents now committing upwards of $10,000 per annum to have their kids play hockey. Hockey, however does not stand alone. Things are not much different in volleyball, swimming, figure skating, soccer and many other sports with many kids devoting their full attention to a single sport 5 days a week 10-11 months a year. The result is a system that goes against the very basis of LTAD.

So back to our original question; Should sports be following the key recommendations of LTAD and if so are they . You decide. For this blogger it appears that a happy medium may be best.

Are you Serious!

2011-12-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

About a month ago a Toronto area school banned all hard balls including soccer balls, footballs and even tennis balls claiming that they were dangerous. A few weeks later the ban was lifted after angry parents filed complaints with the local school board. While we are pleased that saner minds have prevailed one has to wonder as to how a decision to ban active outdoor play was brought about in the first place. School boards have to understand that promoting active play helps kids with their studies and improves the overall school environment. Lets hope that school boards learn from this.....

The Canadian Olympic Committee recently announced that it would pay coaches for Olympic medals http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i2Ga67jCzAndlXypJetF2NvO9wFQ?docId=CNG.223c07996df1426c0233f2eb2719da0e.761. While we promote the payment of cash bonuses to athletes who win Olympic medals - Heatstroke wonders if the payment of monies to coaches who produce Olympic medallists is a good use of funds. We agree that coaches are an important lifeline and are vital in the development of our athletes. However, Sport Canada rules place a limit on how much coaches can be paid here in Canada. As a result many of the world's best coaches refuse to come to Canada opting instead to pursue more lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Understanding this important point, Heatstroke argues that Sport Canada should remove its ceiling, and funds used from the OTP program be used to supplement the salaries of our coaches. Just a thought.

Those who follow the sport of rowing should pay close attention to the battle that is about to begin for the lightweight women's double. Three women all of whom have proven themselves on the international scene will compete for two seats in London. The battle to make the boat could be more heated that the competition in the Olympics. No wonder then that this boat is projected by many as having the best chance to medal in London.

Things I think......I think

2011-12-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that there are still 35 weeks until the Olympic cauldron is lit to commemorate the start of the 2012 Olympic Games - Canada's Men's Basketball Team already knows its fate at these games. For the third straight Olympiad they will watch the games unfold without them. Hopefully this trend can stop in 2016 which makes this blogger wonder aloud as to why Canada sent a totally inexperienced team to the 2011 Pan-America Games in Mexico.

With NBA players in labour unrest and their season in peril why wouldn't Basketball Canada invite Canadian born NBA players to participate in the Pan-American Games. Despite what many believe Canada is producing some great young basketball players including Tristan Thomson, Jamal Magloire, Andy Rautins, Myck Kabongo and many others. Unfortunately, many of these athletes are reluctant to play for Canada. With NBA players looking for court time, and Basketball Canada looking to start over shouldn't the 2011 Pan-American Games have been seen as a great chance to wipe to slate clean? We think so.

We all read in disbelief about the death of Canada's most successful athlete at the 2008 Beijing Games - Hickstead. His sudden death was sad for those who follow amateur sport here in Canada and even more so for those who follow equestrian. With the passing of Hickstead one wonders if Canada's sporting officials are scratching their heads as to how Canada will win 20 medals in London. I certainly am. I had him winning 2 medals in London.

Interesting article in the Globe and Mail about two weeks ago where former Canadian Men's Basketball Coach claims that our universities have to do more to keep Canadian athletes here at home. Ken we agree, but why isn't anyone doing anything.

The Things I think

2011-11-28T20:42:00.001-08:00

It may seem hard to believe but Daniel Igali's gold medal in free style wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games was the last time a male athlete of colour won an Olympic medal for Canada at the Summer Olympics. Since the 2000 Olympic Games, medals won by Canada's male athletes at the Summer Games have been restricted to sports that are seen as being privileged by many, including equestrian, trampoline, diving, rowing, kayaking, sailing and to a lesser extent swimming. What ever happened to Canada's medal winning ways by minority athletes like Lennox Lewis, Donovan Bailey, Alwyn Morris, Mark McCoy and others? This blogger has some theories as to why this is so.

Rowing Canada officials are on record of saying that they want to see Canada's fortunes in scull rowing improve but then are fail to invite a single female sculler to their Olympic camp. Further if improving Canada's fortunes in scull rowing is truly in the cards why do Canada's rowing officials have prominent scullers like Jerry Browne, Kevin Kowalyuk, and Malcolm Howard fill seats in sweep boats. Something doesn't make sense.

Why is the International Amateur Boxing Federation discussing wether or not female boxers should be wearing skirts at the 2012 Olympic Games. Doesn't the organization have more important things to worry about? After all women's boxing is making it's Olympic debut in 2012 and this blogger things that the organization would be better suited to making sure the competition is well run and fair for all. Something that organization hasn't had a successful record of doing at past Olympiads (for male counterparts).

Swimming Canada

2011-11-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

Swimming Canada may not be achieving the results it desires (yet) but you have to applaud the organization from the athletes right up through to the management.

From an athlete stand-point no other amateur sporting organization in Canada has done as much to garner attention. Consider that at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal athletes marched on the pool deck wearing Montreal Canadian jerseys which energized the home crowd. Some 6 years later at the Pan-American Games in Mexico athletes were seen wearing traditional Mexican wrestling masks which earned the athletes an ovation from the crowd.

From a coaching standpoint the organization has the respect of this blogger to recognize those coaches who are developing world class athletes. Randy Bennett - who is the swim coach of Canada's Star Pupil will head Canada's Swim Team into the 2012 London Games. Contrast this to Athletics Canada who has gone with the same staid coaches to the past 5 Olympiads. Swim Canada

And then there is the Executive Level of the organization who recently announced Vision 2020 - a road map for the organization to be amongst the top 6 nations at the 2020 Olympic Games. The plan itself looks to strengthen the grassroots program while creating a top development model.

No wonder the organization that virtually imploded in 2004 has done a complete 180 in the past 7 years and will look to win three Olympic medals in 2012. Here is hoping they succeed. They certainly deserve it!

Team Canada

2011-10-29T19:14:00.001-07:00

For some sports the Pan-American Games are but an afterthought. Sports like rowing, track & field, and even swimming send their "B" Team to these games, preserving their best athletes for the World Championships while giving development athletes a chance at international competition.

For field hockey, water polo, diving, synchronized swimming, triathlon, dressage, handball, modern pentathlon, shooting, table tennis and canoe/kayak the Pan-American Games are a direct ticket to the Olympic Games. And based on what has transpired in Guadelajara Mexico, Team Canada will be have a much smaller presence in London than it did in Beijing.

Canada's Men's Water Polo and Field Hockey Teams qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games by winning Pan-Am gold in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 2007. In addition, Canada qualified teams in soccer and softball. Some four years later initial observations are that Canada might not send a single team to London.

The sports of softball and baseball are no longer part of the Olympic movement. The men's basketball team has already being eliminated from Olympic qualification. The women's basketball team has been relegated to a last chance qualifier. Our Field Hockey and Water Polo teams (men and women) have their work cut out for them after falling to win gold in Guadelajara.

And while it is noted that soccer and volleyball have not yet had their Olympic qualifier(s) yet, evidence is mounting that Canada will be lucky to send 1 or 2 teams to the 2012 Olympic Games; a significant reduction from only four years ago. A sad state indeed.

Nathan Kotylak

2011-10-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

No one in amateur sport was more controversial this past year than Nathan Kotylak. For those who don't remember, Nathan was an up and coming Water Polo player who was photographed lighting a police car on fire in the riots after Vancouver's loss in game #7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In confessing his actions to local authorities Nathan immediately created a fire storm in amateur sport circles, with many calling for a lifetime ban from sport. Adam Kreek - an Olympic Gold Medallist in the sport of rowing and now a sport activist posted a message on facebook questioning the rationale of a lifetime ban. The message lit up social networking sites with athletes former and current weighing in on the subject; some of who (including Nicole Forrester - an athlete rep) suggesting that athletes are ambassadors and should be held to a higher standard.

Perhaps, but Dany Heatley was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and both Hockey Canada nor the COC did anything about it. He would go on to win Olympic Gold for his country. Ditto for Todd Bertuzzi who is currently being charged for aggravated assault. How about Theo Fleury? There is Chris Pronger who has been found guilty of driving under the influence; He has 2 Olympic gold medals to his name. Craig Mctavish has not only played but coached for Canada despite pleading guilty to vehicular homicide.

So, why in August of 2011 did Water Polo Canada impose a 2 year competition ban on Nathan Kotylak for his actions in June? There is little doubt that the crime was serious and the man if guilty should be punished by the law, but why is Water Polo Canada taking action against the man? Hockey Canada did not, and it's athletes are much greater ambassadors than any Water Polo player that I know.

RMR: Rick Learns Gymnastics with Kyle Shewfelt

2011-10-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Changing Time

2011-10-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

Canada has lofty ambitions in the sport of Track & Field at the 2012 Olympics. They have set a target of winning two Olympic medals in 2012. Dylan Armstrong appears to be a strong bet fresh off a silver medal performance at the Championships and being crowned shot put champion in this year's Diamond League. But after Dylan the cupboard appears empty.

Gary Reed has retired, as has Tyler Christopher. Adam Kunkel - a threat for a world championship medal back in 2007 hasn't been able to to find his form since tearing his achilles tendon some 4 years ago. Perdita, a fan favourite in the sport has relocated to Calgary, but she is on the downside of her career after failing to final in Daegu. Pryscilla Lopes Schlepp is hoping to return in 2012 after having a baby this year but only time will tell if she can regain her form.

With many of Canada's best athletes in the sport either retired or nearing retirement it is becoming evident that Track & Field is on the downswing here in Canada. In Daegu, only 3 Canadian athletes qualified for a final (Dylan included), and the names that once dotted the sports landscape - Bailey, Chalmers, McKoy, Williams are almost absent from the sporting scene here in 2012.

And despite it all, the cast of characters who lead the program remains largely unchanged for the past dozen years. Athletics Canada might it be time for a change in leadership?

Pan-Am Hope?

2011-10-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed. The world's second largest sporting event is currently underway but is anybody following it. The media isn't. Canada's daily newspapers are void of any commentary regarding the games, and trying to find coverage of the games on television is akin to finding an ethical banker on wall street. However, maybe Canadian sporting officials want things to stay this way.

For anyone keeping track, Canada entered the games hoping for a third place finish in terms of overall medals. Thus far Canada is in fifth place behind world powers, Mexico and Brazil. And while it is acknowledged that Canada typically does not send its best athletes to these games, don't let anyone tell you that the games are not important. They are. More so for our pentathletes, field hockey and water polo players and for countless others because these games are qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

For a sport system that has seen its men's basketball teams fail to qualify for the 2012 Games, a women's basketball team who has been relegated to a second chance qualifier, a women's soccer team that finished a disappointing 16th at the world championships and then see its coach - Carolyn Morace resign a day later, Canada needs some good news stories in amateur sports. Lets hope our Pan-Am athletes provide some good news

We Are?

2011-03-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

I am sure you have heard. Today marks the 1 year anniversary of Canada's historic day at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In case you were stuck in a mine for the past 13 months - on this day - 1 year ago - Canada's Olympic Men's Hockey Team won Olympic Gold which elevated Canada's Gold Medal count at the 2010 Olympic Games to 14 - a Winter Olympic Games record.

The success of Canada's Winter Olympians prompted some renewed enthusiasm for future Olympiads, including London 2012. "Team Canada is going to be a different team (going forward), who see winning as something acceptable, correct and something they feel they could achieve," COC President Marcel Aubut said. "I think that's going to be a big difference with the kind of team going to London, Sochi and Rio."

Unfortunately the results from the 2011 Commonwealth Games tell a different story. For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games - India topped Canada in the overall medal count. Australia won as many gold medals as Canada did medals, England nearly doubled Canada's medal tally and Canada itself won fewer medals at these games than at any time since 1974.

Of course the argument can be made that many of Canada's best athletes did not attend, and to an extent that is true. But the same can be said for other many competing nations. Furthermore, Canada did send some of tis best divers, swimmers and track & field athletes to these games, sports in which Canada expects to win Olympic medals in 2012.

Another excuse trotted forward is that the Commonwealth Games are not the Olympics. After all, some of Canada's best medal producing Olympic sports are not contested at the Commonwealth Games. True, but make no mistake the Empire Games as they were once referred to have historically provided a preview of thngs to come. Lets hope that this time around history does not repeat itself. We shall see.

A Case Study

2011-02-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

In my book Heatstroke it is suggested that the athletes have all the power to implement change if they so desire. And if anyone should doubt this very issue they should look no further than what has transpired with the Canadian Women's Soccer Team this past month.

In early February, Carolina Morace, the coach of the Canadian Women's Soccer Team announced that she would be quiting her post following this year's world cup on account of differences with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA). The differences were never brought public but speculation mentioned that it largely dealt with money. Morace wanted greater control over how the money was spent. Further, she wanted her players to reciece greater compensation for their efforts.

After news of her decision became public, the players in a show of solidarity promised to boycott international competition until the association made a long-term commitment to keep Morace around. The decision quickly made national headlines and put the spotlight on the CSA to take action with the World Cup Tournament only months away.

The CSA took action and on February 26, 2011 some three weeks after the boycott was made public the players announed that they were ending their revolt. According to the players, the CSA was making genuine efforts to address issues with Morace.

And while the threat of a boycott proved that the athletes can initiate change one has to wonder why the players backed down from their stance. Invoking memories from the movie "Field of Dreams" where a voice from a field whispers "Go the distance," this writer asks the same from the soccer team.

After all nothing has really changed. The Morace issue while improving is not resolved and the compensation issue is now going before the courts as the CSA refuses to divulge information about its funding formula for the men's team (the women claim that they are unfarily compensated relative to their male counterparts.)

At a time when the women made a brash move and had the sporting world responding to their requests - proving the influence athletes can have when the join together - it also proved the naivete of our athletes. The women had the power to make real change and challenge the CSA to come clean. If only they showed the strength of their convictions. I Dare to dream

Return

2011-02-20T11:56:00.001-08:00

I thought things might be changing by now. Weren't we told so. Canada's amateur athletes were walking taller than ever following a historic performance at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Things had changed. We weren't just talking the talk but we were now walking the walk. Canada now had am amateur sport system that we should be proud about. At least that is what we were told. And then 2011 hit.

In 2011, former Heritage Minister Bev Oda was found to have altered a document that would have provided $7MM in funding to a Canadian Aid Agency - Kairos - http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/02/20/pol-oda-feb18.html. Sports enthusiasts should follow this story closely as it is the Heritage Ministry who oversees Sports Canada. Who knows what impact Oda had on the sports portfolio she oversaw. We will likely never know but I have questions.

And then there is the latest matter surrounding Soccer Canada. http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/937939--women-s-national-soccer-team-keeps-up-pressure-on-csa. At issue is a discrepancy in funding the two programs get. Players on the woman's national team say that they are not being compensated fairly and threatened to boycott upcoming matches until matters were resolved.

Then there is of course a recent survey examing the activity levels of Canadians. A survey in which Dr. Rosana Pellizari - a medical officer with the City of Peterbrough - described as "shocking". http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2984042. The survey itself found that only 16% of adults and 7% of children and youth meet the mimimum level of activity as deemed necessary by the Canadian Society for Excercise Physiology. This after we have been continously told that improved medal performances will motivate Canadians to get healthy.

After all is said and done maybe things aren't as rosy as we want to believe. I have returned.

Get Active.

2010-06-05T20:06:00.002-07:00

It is no secret. Childhood obesity is a serious concern here in Canada. According to Steven Stamis of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada is one of the top five countries in the world when it comes to Childhood Obesity. According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen 20% of our Canada's adolescents are at risk of coronary woes http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Study+finds+teens+risk+coronary+woes/2150337/story.html

It doesn't end there. According to Stats Can 26 per cent of Canadian children aged 5 to 12 are classified as obese. 46% of Canadian Children are not getting the required activity levels for healthy growth and development. And yet despite the epidemic we face no one seems to be doing anything about it.....from government to families.

Physical Education programs across Canada have been slashed in response to reduced government funding for education. In the 1960's over 40% of kids biked to school. That figure is now reduced to less than 5%. True kids are placed in organized activity in greater numbers today, but unorganized activity seems to be an afterthought for most.

Parks across the country are empty as parents worry about the safety of their children. Schools are afraid to engage in new and interesting activities for fear of litigation. In what was once a normal mode of transportation has almost been lost. In the 1960's over 40% of kids biked to school - today that figure is below 5%. As for kids walking to school. Why walk when you can drive.

Isn't it time we said enough. Lets forget about the excuses as it isn't too cold, too dangerous, too late, too early too whatever. Let's start building our communities once again by getting outside and knowing our neighbors. Let's start using the parks that are there for us and force government to better maintain the ones we do have.

This is a national cause but we can all do our bit. I know that I am going to start today!

Go the Distance

2010-05-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

In the movie Field of Dreams, novice farmer Ray Kinsella builds a baseball diamond in his corn field upon hearing the cryptic message "If you build it he will come". Later on, Ray hears another cryptic message urging him "To go the distance". Those messages urge Ray to take action whereupon at the movie's end we discover that those messages have helped Ray reconcile with his dead father.

In the book "Heatstroke - Why Canada's Summer Olympic Program is Failing and How we Can Fix It" the writer recommends the creation of a high ranking sport body that is void of government interference and comprised of high ranking sport officials with no financial interest and no vested interest to manage sport in this country.

On Tuesday May 18, 2010 almost as though he adopted the very idea from the book Heatstroke - Sport Minister Gary Lunn announced the creation of an Own the Podium board comprised of high ranking officials with no financial interest and no vested interest to manage sport. The board headed by VANOC CEO John Furlong and comprised of Cathy Priestner Allinger - Own the Podium founder, Lane MacAdam - a director within Sport Canada, sport broadcaster Keith Pelley, sport medicine specialist Dr. Mike Williamson and others will have the ear of the federal government who from all appearances has the ability to accept and act on the boards decision.http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Vancouver+Games+chair+Podium+board/3042847/story.html

However, not unlike the movie Field of Dreams itself - this blogger urges Canada's Sport Minister - Gary Lunn - to "Go the Distance".

Today, I ask Minister Gary Lunn to separate sport from government all together with the dismantling of Sport Canada. "There is no reason to have Sport Canada.....it is a bureaucracy that presents another set of hurdles that one has to navigate" notes FIBT President Bob Storey.

With the creation of this board - Sport Canada is now just a duplicate agency whose resources could be desperately used by Canada's Amateur Athletes. Yes, Mr. Lunn- Great Work - But please "Go the Distance"

Some Restraint Please

2010-05-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

The early indications are that Marcel Aubut's tenure as COC President will be a successful one. Who would dare argue. A parade in Montreal to celebrate the successes of Canada's amateur athletes in Vancouver - a sold out gala dinner later that afternoon and increased political clout for Canada's athletes.

Canada's amateur athletes are singing the man's praises as a result. " I think if the all the athletes had his attitude, we would be the best nation in the Summer Games, Winter Games," said Olympic medallist Caroline Brunet.

However, some restraint might be in order before we knight the man and declare him the savior of our Summer Olympic Program.

In Claude Brochu's book "My turn at Bat" Brochu notes that Aubut was a minority investor with the now-defunct Quebec Nordiques but structured an agreement with his partners to run the NHL Team as he saw fit; he answered to no one and did as he pleased. Brochu later adds that Aubut as managing director of the club demanded help from the government for the construction of a new NHL arena before finding out if the business community would support him. When the government refused Aubut's request he ended up doing the unimaginable, and sold the team to a an investment group from Colorado.

To hear Aubut speak of the matter he did all he can to save the Nordiques but fails to tell anyone of the financial windfall he reaped from the sale.

So, while we applaud the man today, please people a little restraint. History shows that Aubut is in this for himself.

Welcome to the Jungle

2010-05-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Olympic enthusiasts may not know it, but there is a weekly radio program here in Canada that discusses news and events within the world of amateur sport.

A virtual afterthought after the Olympic cauldron has been extinguished Jungle Jim Hunter is trying to make amateur sport important 12 months a year.

An Olympic medalist in Alpine Skiing and one of the original Crazy Canucks, Jungle Jim became disillusioned with the lack of information about amateur sport here in Canada and decided to do something about it. Using his own money, Jungle purchased air-time on the Calgary Sports Radio Station - the Fan 960 - and started up his own radio show.

Every Saturday from 9-11am on the Fan 960 Jungle Jim hits the airwaves and discusses events that matter to amateur sport enthusiasts. If you are outside of the Calgary area you can listen to the show via the internet simply by going to www.fan960.com.

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Real changes are being made within Athletics Canada and while not everyone is pleased this blogger thinks it is about time. For the first time in the history of the National Sport Organization - Athletics Canada is toying around the idea of a National Training Centre. Under the current structure high performance athletes are scattered across the country under the direction of a "Personal Coach".

A National Training Centre would have the nation's best athletes train in 1 locale thus giving the nations best athletes the opportunity to train beside the best. The system has worked wonders in Rowing, Speed Skating, Swimming, Bobsled, Cross-country skiing etc.. and for a sport that has won one a single medal at the past three Olympiads the proposed system will certainly do better than the current one.

Not everyone agrees, however. Gregory Portnoy in a interview with the CBC noted "This system almost eliminates the personal coach. The personal coach is key in track and field.....the national federation is incapable of developing athletes by itself..." Portnoy however, is a coach serving his own personal interests. Portnoy is a personal coach to long and triple jump record holder Tabia Charles.

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Rumors are abound that the COC wants to take full control of the Own the Podium (OTP) program. Qudos to Own the Podium CEO Alex Baumann who noted in an interview that this would in fact be a bad idea. Baumann was quoted as saying that the the program (OTP) has to make difficult decisions to move sport forward and may be unable to do that if it was part of the COC.

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Glad to be back looking into the world of amateur sports once again.

A Hint of Nepotism

2010-04-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Last week Jean Dupre was announced as the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee. On the surface the selection was a a decent one. After all Dupre has been the Director General of Speed Skating Canada since 1995 and during his tenure the sport has risen to unparalled heights. Since 2006 the sport has won a mind-numbing 22 Olympic medals - and has produced some of Canada's most recognizable athletes; Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen, Jeremy Wotherspoon to name a few.

And while no one will doubt that Dupre has the qualificaitons and experience to be CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee the fashion in which he became CEO ought to be up for investigation.

In 2009 Marcel Aubut was in a political fight to become President of the COC with Tricia Smith. Smith - a former Olympic medallist in the sport of rowing and a VP with the COC was widely percieved as a front runner for the role. However, Dupre - also a VP within the organization (in addition to being Director General of Speed Skating Canada) lobbied hard on Aubut's behalf. With Dupre and a few other political heavyweights in his corner, Aubut was elected as the President of the Canadian Olympic Committee in the summer of 09.

Fast forward 8 months. In April of 2010 Aubut is handed the reigns of Canada's Olympic Committee and his first order of business is to hire Dupre as the organizations CEO.

In most circles similar-type announcements would have likely raised eyebrows and may have even warranted an investigation. In the COC it is business and no one really cares.

Perhaps it is true. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Confused

2010-04-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Great article in the Toronto Sun from Steve Simmons. In the article he notes that public opinion of Canada's Olympic program is at an all time high, so why is it that everyone in the organization is jumping ship. Gone are CEO - Chris Rudge - President Michael Chambers, COO- Lou Ragagnin & VP David Bedford just to name a few. Also announcing his departure is Roger Jackson CEO of the Own the Podium program. http://www.torontosun.com/sports/columnists/steve_simmons/2010/04/19/13646126.html

A team that is at the pinnacle of success typically does not witness a mass exodus. In fact most teams that experience success strengthen their management core through addition. Witness the New York Yankees. After winning the World Series in 2009 Manager Joe Girardi stayed on in 2010 as did President Randy Levine as did GM Brian Cashman as did the ownership team.

In the case of the Canadian Olympic Committee could it be that senior mangement - after Vancouver has recognized that there is no where to go but down. In two short years it will be our Summer Olympians who compete for the pride of Canada and as we have seen Canada's history at the Summer Games has not been a cause for celebration over the last 10 years.

The goal in London 2012 is a top twelve finish and if history is any indicator Canada will have to win approximately 24 medals to satisfy this lofty goal. Over the course of the last six Olympiads Canada's Summer Athletes have won an average of 15 medals and have shown to finish within +/-3 of this figure for the last decade.

Understanding history and the challenges that await our Summer Olympic Program it appears that Rudge, Chambers, Ragagnin and Jackson left at just the right time.

Catch Up

2010-04-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

It has been seven long days since this blogger last published a post and since that time a number of events have transpired. A quick whirlwhind is as follows.

Roger Jackson - CEO of the Own the Podium program announced that he is stepping down from his post once his contract expires on April 15, 2010. Alex Baumann - Executive Director of the Summer Own the Podium program will assume the role of interim CEO. It is unknown who Baumann's replacement will be but speculation suggests that Anne Merklinger will likely be the succesful candidate.

B2Ten the incredibly succesful initiative that raised over $3 million dollars from corporate entities to support athletes at the 2010 Games is being expanded. The goal of the organization is to now raise $20 million dollars and support Canada's athletes through to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Good article in the Guelph Mercury about how Athletic Canada is changing the way it funds its athletes http://news.guelphmercury.com/Sports/article/620283. Soon an a 18 year old athlete will be subjected to an easier standard for carding purposes than would be a 23 year old athlete and doubly more so than for a 28 year old athlete. No doubt that development initiatives for our younger athletes is important but imagine a professional sports team using the same analogy to select one of its teams. The end result would be a high school team competing against men. If only Athletics Canada saw things this way.

The financial figures for the Vancouver 2010 Games are starting to be released. It is expected that VANOC and its $1.56 Billion dollar operating budget will break even. However, what is not included amongst this figure is the $1 Billion dollar budget for Security and the $600 million dollars spent on sports infastructure. The citizens of Canada are paying this tab. And don't think that the citizens of Vancouver citizens are getting off easy. The City of Vancouver spent close to $4.5Billion to host the Games and the bill for the Province of British-Columbia will be close to $3.0 Billion. After everything is said and done Vancouver residents the citizens of B.C and the Canadian Taxpayer and will end up paying close to $8 billion dollars to host the games.

Randy Starkam on his Olympic Blog reported a figure from Bob Mackin of High Society that Gary Lunn's - the head of Sport Canada - hotel bill from Feb. 4 to March 1 in Vancouver and Whistler totalled $10,213.49, or an average of $392.83 a night. Lunn's predecessor in the role of Sports Minister is the now disgraced Helena Guergis who was asked to leave the Tory Caucus this week.

Yes quite the week.

Summer Envy

2010-04-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

This past week Tracy Cobb of WinSport Canada provided the writer with a first hand look at construction of the $231 million athletic and ice complex on Canada Olympic Park. Construction is approximately 60% complete but already one can see the opportunities the facility will provide for the future of Canada's Winter Olympic Athletes.

Upon completion, the 500,000 square foot facility will contain two international size arenas, two NHL size arena's, a national high performance training centre, a public sport development centre, and a public market cafe. A 100,000 square foot office building overlooking the ice surfaces will be the home of Hockey Canada and other national sport organizations. The facility will also include a public school operated by the Calgary Board of Education allowing athletes to attend high school without having to leave the facility. Meeting and banquet rooms serving the needs of sport groups will be on site. And if not enough the entire facility will be built to the highest standard of environmental sustainability - LEED silver.

The athlete and ice complex, however, is just part of WinSport Canada's impact on Winter Sport development here in Canada. Athlete facilities managed by WinSport Canada on Canada Olympic Park include a 22 foot Super Halfpipe that is home to Canada's national snowboard team, a Freestyle Aerials and Moguls Course that is considered the most challenging on the world cup circuit, a Ski Jumping Training Centre - that is dubbed the best facility in North America, an Olympic Bobsleigh, Luge & Skeleton track that plays host to World Cup events on a regular basis, the Bob Niven Training Centre and Cross Country Ski Trails.

Then there are the facilities that WinSport manages away from Canada Olympic Park including the Olympic Oval - home of the world's fastest ice, the Bill Warren Training Centre home to Canada's cross country ski teams in Canmore, Alberta, the Spray Lakes Athlete Village, the Beckie Scott high performance centre on Haig Glacier and Camp Green on Farnhum Glacier.

Canada Olympic Park is a sports haven for our Winter Olympic athletes but after saying good-bye to Ms. Cobb sports envy started to set in. As one who is actively involved in the development of summer athletes here in Canada it became apparent that our athletes are offered little in comparison to what is offered in Calgary, Alberta. Canada's Summer Olympic Programs are scattered across the country, many who don't even provide a national training centre. The result is that the different sports are unable to learn from one another and the supportive services that are required to be successful are sorrily lacking.

Perhaps this explains why Canada won 14 Olympic gold medals in Vancouver, and Canada's Summer Olympic athletes won 12 Olympic gold medals in Beijing, Athens, Sydney and Atlanta......combined. Summer envy indeed

Rudge Resigns

2010-04-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

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?"

Tara Who?

2010-04-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Who is Canada's best unknown amateur athlete. That distinction has to go to Tara Whitten.

The 30 year-old former cross country skier turned cyclist is now a two time world champion after taking up the sport only two short years ago. Currently a Ph.D student at the University of Alberta, Tara did what no other Canadian has ever done at the world cycling championships. She became the first Canadian to win two world championship titles in the same year by winning both the individual pursuit race and the soon to be introduced Olympic event - the omnium - a five race discipline consisting of a 200 metre time trial, individual pursuit, scratch race, points race and a 500m time trial. Tara is now only the third Canadian of all time to win world championship gold on a veledrome track. Imagine the possibilities in 2012 when between now and then the amount of time Tara will have spent in the sport will actually double.

Not sure if you heard but Adrian Spracklen is joining his father Mike as a coach with Rowing Canada. Adrian's duties are presently unknown but this blogger feels that Adrian will oversee the Lightweight Men's Program in Victoria, who are currently without a coach since the death of Bent Jensen in 2008. Prior to his arrival in Victoria, Adrian was the head rowing coach of Mercyhurst College - a division II school in the United States where he coaches a number of top lightweight men.

An unknown here in Canada - Adrian is well respected by his athletes. Bethany Brun a former team captain with the Mercyhurst Program called Adrian a "nice guy and wonderful coach." At the very least Adrian and his family will improve the scenery at Elk Lake in Victora. Adrian's adopted son Rowan won the "cutest kid" contest on an nation wide contest on ABC beating out 50,000 kids.

The question that remains within Rowing Canada circles is who will assist Al Morrow at the London Training Centre in London, Ontario. Rowing insiders speculate that Mike Thompson - a development (U23) coach within Rowing Canada will get the post. Another possible name being thrown around is that of Alison Dobbs - currently working with Mike in Victoria. Of course this is just mere speculation.

Change of Face

2010-03-29T22:13:00.001-07:00

Never one to come to the defence of the Canadian Olympic Committee, this time around this blogger has no choice.

In today's Vancouver Sun writer John Korobanic talks about the social injustices associated with the bonus program that pays Olympic athletes for medal winning performances but doesn't do the same for Paralympic Athletes. www.vancouversun.com/sports/Funding+Forest+major+concern+after+bringing+home+five+medals/2717097/sto

ry.html

This blogger has the greatest of respect for our Paralympic athletes. They are incredible athletes and should be compensated in the same manner for their Olympic medal winning performances as were our able athletes. However, the basis of their facts and henceforth their anger is completely off base.

The Canadian Olympic Committee is responsible for Canada's participation at the Olympic Games. Meanwhile the Canadian Paralympic Committee is responsible for Canada's participation at the Paralympic Games. The distinction between the two programs is important.

It was the Canadian Olympic Committee who came forward with the bonus program that compensated our Olympic medal winning athletes to the tune of $20,000 for Olympic Gold, $10,000 for Olympic Silver and $5,000 for Olympic Bronze. Meanwhile, when it comes to our Paralympic athletes the decision to implement a bonus program their very own is at the discretion of the Canadian Paralympic Committee who decided to forgo the program all together.

Our Paralympic athletes should not be crying wolf over the perceived injustices of an Olympic bonus program but rather ask their very own Olympic Committee as to why they didn't follow the Canadian Olympic Committee's lead.

And if someone ever says it is on account of money, lets not forget that the Canadian Paralympic Committee was given $10 million dollars in the latest federal budget. The Canadian Olympic Committee's take was $0.

Top Six!

2010-03-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview Alex Baumann - Executive Director of the Own the Podium program said that he would like to see Canada finish in the top six at the Summer Olympics. http://www.troymedia.com/?p=9257. This blogger agrees and goes a step further than does Baumann by saying that Canada has the ability to fullfil this lofty goal.

The Secret? Follow the path to success of Canada's Winter Olympic program.

Contrary to the belief of many - Canada's Winter Olympic program has not always been successful. In fact in the 1970's and early 1980's Canada Winter and Summer Olympic programs were following similar paths of futility. In fact at the 1984 Winter Olympics Canada won 3 Olympic medals. Today, Canada's winter athletes are among the most celebrated and recognized in the entire world winning a record 14 Olympic gold medals in Vancouver by following a simple but proven three point plan.

1) Creation of a Sport Institute - Canada may not have won Olympic gold in 1988 but the Calgary Olympics left an indeliable legacy on Canada's Winter Olympic Program. The Games led to the creation of a Winter Sports Institute where all of Canada's Winter Sport Organizations are now based in Calgary. No wonder then that 13 of the 26 Olympic medals that Canada won in Vancouver were won by athletes living and or training in Calgary. Unfortunately, no such facility exists for Canada's Summer Sport Organizations. Today Canada's Summer Sporting bodies are in locales all across this country.

2) Partnerships. Canada's Winter Sport Organizations have created partnerships with a number of agencies in Calgary who have greatly assisted in the success of Canada's Winter Athletes. For example - Speed Skating Canada has partnerships with the Canadian Sport Centre - Calgary who assists in providing the organization with nutritional services, life services, regeneration facilities and so forth. The partnerships don't end there. Speed Skating Canada works hand and hand with the Olympic Oval in Calgary who assists with coaching and development. And then there is the University of Calgary who assists with funding and many other related matters. With the implementation of the Own the Podium program, partnerships within Canada's Summer Sport Organizations are improving - in certain sports - but they still have a long way to go.

3) Be inclusive not exclusive. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Canada's Winter Athletes won medals in 10 of 15 disciplines. In Vancouver our athletes won medals in 9 of 15 Olympic disciplines. Meanwhile when it comes to the Summer Olympics Canada's sporting leaders want to focus on improving medal winning opportunities in a select few sports. The fact is that if Canada wants to finish in the top 6 at a Summer Olympiad it needs to win medals in a number of different Olympic disciplines.

Canada's Winter Sports organizations proved that Canada can finish in the top 6 of a Summer Olympics. Lets just hope they follow their lead.

The Fix

2010-03-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

.............."Canada has the second best university sport system in the world. Unfortunately we live right next to the best," notes Swimming Canada CEO Pierre Lafontaine.

Acknowledging the strength of the Canadian University System there is no need to overhaul what is currently in place. What needs to be done is to strengthen the system so that it isn't perceived as the lowly alternative to an American juggernaut. Some minor changes will ensure that this is done.

The first of which is the age. With the exception of football - there isn't an age limit in CIS Sport. Comparatively NCAA Division I sport has an age limit of what is essentially 25 (there are some exceptions). An upper age limit ensures that the CIS system is focused on athlete development as opposed to a sporting alternative for athletes long past their expiry date. Too often in CIS Sport we find athletes who are past their prime but use CIS Sport to live out their playing days. An age restriction of 25 would help create a system that is focused on developing athletes.

Prohibit professional athletes from playing Collegiate Sport. NCAA is often mocked for the restrictions it places on its athletes but there is little argument that it is effective. NCAA Division I sport is seen as a stepping stone into professional sport leagues and Olympic teams. Comparatively, the Canadian system allows professionals and carded amateur athletes to compete in CIS sport. The result is that the focus on athlete development is blurred. Allowing 30 something carded amateur athletes to compete in CIS Sport does nothing to develop 18-22 year athletes in the training to compete stage of the long term athlete development model.

Compete - too often athletes are lured south by a big American media glamorizing U.S collegiate athletics as being a far superior product. The facts are that aside from Basketball and Football - Canadian universities have shown themselves capable of competing against their American counterpart time and time again. Increased cross border competition would emphasize to our athletes that you don't necessarily have to go south to find strong competition.

Scholarships - Another reason athletes go south is the glamour of a big U.S Scholarship. Athletes, however may be surprised to hear that Canadian Universities offer scholarships that cover the cost of tuition and books. There is no doubt that Canadian universities must offer more in terms of scholarship opportunities but educating athletes of the scholarship incentives offered here Canadian may reduce the exodus south.

Market - Market - Market. As opposed to staging the CIS Basketball championship on the same weekend as the NCAA Tournament why not have a CIS Championship weekend in one locale in early March. Having a CIS Championship weekend where the national championships for Basketball, Volleyball, Track & Field, Wrestling, Hockey, Swimming and Gymnastics are all contested in the same weekend in the same city would create a buzz that is seriously lacking in CIS sport today.

There are of course other changes that could be implemented but these small changes would go along way to restoring the CIS Sporting System.......

Canadian University Sport - Anyone Care?

2010-03-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

What a weekend of Basketball. St,Mary's a 10 seed beat #2 seed Villanova today and a 9 seed from Northern Iowa shocked #1 seed Kansas. Then there were the buzzer beaters that seemed to be commonplace throughout the weekend. Or how about the braket buster victories from the likes of #11 seed Old Dominion on day 1 of the tounnament. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has begun!

And if the over 50 hours of television coverage on CBS, the 13 hour days on the Score, the NBA on ABC and TSN wasn't enough - somewhere through all of this on TSN2 there was the CIS Basketball Championship. Not to worry though if you didn't know because you aren't alone, because truthfully who really cares when even the CIS itself doesn't seem to.

How else can one explain that the pinnacle of men's basketball - the CIS Championship would be held on the same weekend as the start of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Wouldn't this be akin to planning a stag party for New Years Day, a movie release the night of the oscars or a hockey game on Game #7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Logistics aside, outside of football does anyone really care about CIS Sports anymore.

The fact is, Collegiate sports in Canada has become a haven for the over-aged athlete looking for that one last chance at competition. Case in point Mike Danton. Danton, a 29 year-old former NHL Hockey Player and felon after serving 5 years in prison for attempted murder, showed the flaws in the CIS system this past year when he played university hockey for St. Mary's Huskies.

Danton is the norm not the exception. In hockey, the majority of players are Canadian Hockey League rejects returning to university as 20+ athletes making it difficult for a 17 year old to compete. Meanwhile in the States the majority of players are up and coming pro's.

In football - the Hec Creighton Winner - Erik Glavic is a relatively young 23 years old but with 2 more years of eligibility and looking to return to school he won`t be finished his collegiate days until he is 25. Meanwhile in the States 22 year old Heisman Winner Sam Bradford is trying his hand at the NFL.

The facts are that CIS Sport is no longer relevant. Many of the nations best athletes leave Canada for the opportunity to compete in the high glamour world of NCAA Athletics. In a recent Globe & Mail article it is estimated that over 100 of our best basketball players have taken the skills south of the border. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/making-a-run-for-the-border/article1493032/. It is no different in other sports. In rowing, this blogger estimates that over 66% of the Canadian Olympic winning 8+ and Silver medal winning pair consisted of athletes from U.S Schools. Further those athletes that that are seen as the future in the sport (Colin & McCabe) attend school in the States. In Track & field the lone medallist from the 2008 Olympics attended school south of the border.

So how do we fix it........................

General Musings

2010-03-14T20:17:00.001-07:00

Some General Thoughts......

Hard to believe that the Vancouver 2010 Games have been over for two weeks now. Despite the euphoria we all felt for our amateur athletes in Vancouver, things have certainly returned to normal in the sports media. Eric Guay wins the World Cup in the Giant Slalom, Kristina Groves is the World Cup Winner in Long Track Speed Skating, Jen Heil is the World Cup Champion in Moguls and the news barely makes it on to the back pages of the sports papers.

You may not have heard but arguably Canada's most dominant amateur athlete of all time retired this past weekend. Jeremy Wotherspoon, winner of 67 World Cup Races and the most dominant figure the sport has seen for the past decade is calling it quits. Some unfortunate instances at the Olympic Games may make Jeremy Canada's most under-appreciated athletes, but this man is a Canadian legend who should be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame....immediately. Congratulations Jeremy on an outstanding career.

B2Ten. Likely haven't heard of them but their impact at the 2010 Games was incredible. Of the 14 Olympic Gold Medals that Canada won in Vancouver - 7 of them were impacted by this little unknown organization. B2Ten was founded by a group of private financiers looking to give our Winter Olympians the resources they needed in their drive to Vancouver - Sound familiar? The impact was profound. 50% of Canada's Olympic gold medallists were funded in part by this organization.

Own the Podium CEO - Dr. Roger Jackson is expected to step down from his post once his contract expires in June of 2010. His replacement is expected to be Alex Baumann.

How good are Alberta's Curlers. Not only were Canada's 2 Olympic Curling Teams from Alberta Alberta Teams have won the Brier - The Canadian Championship in the sport of Curling - 8 of the past 10 years. To give an example as to Alberta's true dominance in the sport after Kevin Martin and his Alberta Team decided to forgo this years Brier, Kevin Koe and his Alberta Team stepped right up. They ended up taking the 2010 Championship.

Political or Sport

2010-03-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

It is no secret. Alex Baumann is expected to take over as CEO of the Own the Podium program shortly after the Paralympic Games. Dr. Roger Jackson who is the current CEO of the program is expected to step down when his contract expires in June 2010.

If the rumors are true and Alex Baumann is promoted to the role he has a tough decision to make in quick order. He has to decide if the Own the Podium program is a political program or a sports program.

Own the Podium is an enhanced form of sport funding - over and above a sports core funding - that rewards sports for success on the international stage. With a focus on excellence the one sport that has benefited the most from Own the Podium type funding is Alpine Skiing. However, Alpine Skiing has not produced a single Olympic medallist since 1993. Every other winter sport - aside from Ski Jumping and Luge - has had Canadian athletes stand on the Olympic podium since this time.

If Own the Podium is a sport program, why is it then that a sport like Biathlon (2 Olympic medals since 1993) receives little by way of Own the Podium funding while Alpine Skiing has benefited enormously ($10 million dollars in the last five years).

How about a sport like track & field. Following the 1996 Olympic Games the sport has seen but a single Canadian athlete stand on the podium but yet benefits enormously from Own the Podium type financing. Meanwhile, Canada men's wrestling program has been equally as successful as track & field in the course of the past 14 years but receives little.

The facts are that Alpine Skiing and Track & Field are sports that have a strong political presence. Meanwhile wrestling, and biathlon have limited presence in political forums. However, if the Own the Podium program is true to its mandate and it recognizes excellence -political importance should have little impact in determining funding.

We shall find out.

The Pressure is On

2010-03-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

On Thursday the Federal Budget gave Canada's Summer Olympic Community what it has long been asking for. The resources to be succesful in London 2012. With $42 million dollars per annum now flowing into the Summer Own the Podium Program Canadians expect from their summer athletes what we witnessed from our Winter Athletes. Medals and lots of them.

Canada's sport officials have long stated that with the funds at its disposal Canada can expect a 12th place finish in the overall medal haul in London. After all we finished 14th in Beijing. Canada's athletes now have the funds and we expect our athletes to produce the results. However, the quesion this blogger has to ask...How?

In Beijing Cuba, placed 12th in the overall medal count with 24 medals. Canada won 18 medals. Canada has never finished a non-boycotted games with more than 22 medals, and over the course of the past two decades has averaged 15 Olympic medals per games.

To achieve its desired results Canada will rely heavily on the sports of Track & Field, Swimming, Woman's Wrestling, Trampoline, Diving, Rowing and Canoe Kayak to bring home the lions share of medals. But can these sports exceed on their performances in London?

Lets not forget that Rowing won 4 medals in Beijing - expecting more in London is a challenge. Woman's wrestling won 2 medals in 3 events. Our trampolinists won 2 medals in the sports only 2 events at the games. Our Canoe-Kayakers won 2 medals in Beijing. They have never won more than 3 medals at a non-boycotted games. Track & Field won a medal in Beijing, the sports first at an Olympic Games in over 12 years - is it fair to ask for more in London.

True, our swimmers are getting better but lets not forget that Canada won 2 medals in equestrian in 2008. A horse doesn't stay in his/her athletic prime for long and the hope here is that our swimmers can pick up the slack from our four legged friends in London.

In Thursday's budget Canada's Summer Olympic Community got what it wished for. There are no more excuses. Here is hoping that this prognositator is missing something and our athletes can deliver. Time will tell.

A Political Play

2010-03-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

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.

Team of the Games

2010-03-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

With all the talk of Olympic medals, Own the Podium, Ice Hockey Gold, and patriotism the one thing that might be lost amongst all of us is the performance of the Canadian Men's Cross Country Ski Team at the 2010 Olympics.

In Vancouver Canada's foursome of Ivan Babikov, Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey and George Grey set a series of national records the likes of which was totally unexpected. Consider:

In the team sprint Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey narrowly missed the podium with a 4th place finish. Canada's best ever result in this race.

In the 30km pursuit Canada had three men finish in the top ten - More than any other country in the world.

Canada's 4 x 10km relay team finished in 7th place. Canada's best ever result in this race.

In the 50km mass start - Canada's Devon Kershaw finished in fifth place less than 2 seconds behind the winner. Canada's previous best in this event was a 44th place finish.

If one were to evaluate a teams performance in terms of best ever finishes and national records the cross country team of Babikov, Kershaw, Harvey and Grey would have ranked ahead of every other Canadian sport and team at these games. However, in a Olympics where the Canadian public seemed fixated on Olympic medals the performance of this team seemed to fly under the radar.

Although they may have not won an Olympic medal this foursome certainly showed that Canada can compete with Scandanavian and Eastern European nations in nordic sports. Own the Podium may not care, but this blogger was truly impressed.

Congratulations!!!

2010-02-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

Canada is in a festive mood today. Mens' Ice Hockey Gold, to complete the 2010 Winter Olympic Games with an all time record of 14 gold medals. Not bad for a country that had never won Olympic gold on home soil. Canada's athletes should be proud of themselves. We are certainly proud of them.

With the Games now complete the focus will soon turn to our Summer athletes and they have some big shoes to fill. In fact, let the results in Vancouver show that the disparity between our summer and winter athletes has never been as great as it is today. Consider that Canada has won 12 gold medals at the past four Olympiads in summer sports - fewer than what Canada won in Vancouver. Canada has won 50 Olympic medals at the past two winter Olympiads. At the past three Summer Olympiads Canada has won 44 medals. Canada won over 10% of all available medals awarded in Vancouver. At the past three summer games Canada has won fewer than 1.5% of medals awarded.

Lets enjoy Canada's success in Vancouver, but recognize that there are two groups of athletes in this country. Our Summer athletes deserve the same opportunities our winter athletes have received.

Let the Review Begin

2010-02-27T19:19:00.000-08:00

Canada will finish the 2010 Winter Games with 26 medals - 13 of which are guaranteed to be gold and this number could still increase to 14 dependant upon the results of the Men's ice hockey final on Sunday. Let the results show that Canada has had a very succesful Winter Games.

In reviewing the results by sport we see that many sports have increased their medal count from four years earlier in Torino. The results by sport are as follows:

2 (1 maybe 2 gold) medals in ice hockey
2 (1 gold) medals in curling
5 (1 gold) medals in long track speed skating
5 (2 gold )medals in short track speed skating
2 (1 gold) medals in moguls
3 (1 gold) medals in bobsled
1 (1 gold) in skeleton
2 ( 1 gold) medals in snowboard cross
1 (1 gold) in ski cross
1 (1 gold) in snowboard slalom
2 (1 gold) in figure skating

Many sports improved on their medal count from Torino including ice hockey, moguls, bobsled, snowboard cross, moguls, figure skating and snowboard slalom. Those that fell include cross country skiing, skeleton and long track speed skating.

In the years to follow much will be made of these results. The Own the Podium program will be scrutinized and or celebrated for Canada's success.

But after all the facts are analyzed and the pundits have put away their pens the following synopsis should be made.

1) The results from Vancouver confirm that Own the Podium program was succesful in turning potential silver and bronze medal performances into gold. How else can one explain a record 13 (and counting ) Olympic gold medals in Vancouver nearly doubling the number of gold from four years earlier. However, the Own the Podium program failed to turn potential fourth and fifth place performances into podium finishes. Canada failed in its goal of being the #1 medal winning nation in Vancouver despite having the games on home soil, access to venues earlier & more often than any other nation, and countless other advantages.

2) Alberta based athletes won 14 of Canada's 26 medals in Vancouver, down from 16 medals in Torino. The biggest fall was in Canada's long track speed skating program where Canada won 3 fewer medals in Vancouver than it did in 2006. The fall in medal productivity can be attributed in part to the financial woes experienced by WinSport Canada in 2009 which resulted in budget cuts and long term staff being terminated from their duties with the Olympic Oval. Should Canada wish to continue with its medal superority in Succhi it is imperative that WinSport Canada have the financial resources it needs to operate on a go forward basis.

3) Canadian athletes had a phenomenal games but there is evidence that the system is starting to show cracks. The facilities in Calgary that are used to produce Olympic athletes are getting older, WinSport Canada is facing some tough financial times and should this continue there is a possibility that Canada's medal haul could decline - I.E think Long Track Speed Skating.

This blogger's recommendation going into 2014 is to scrap the Own the Podium program and utilize the savings to invest into the infastructure and operations of WinSport Canada. Doing so would create a legacy of success into 2014, 2018 and beyond.

Unanswered Questions

2010-02-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

Weren't these the games in which Canada's athletes would no longer question the lack of resources that were available to them? After all we were told that the $110 million dollar Own the Podium program would take care of external issues and allow our athletes to focus on the task at hand. "Own the Podium is giving Canadian winter athletes the tools and the resources so that we too can deliver the performance of a life-time in 2010," noted cross country skier Brian McKeever.

Why is it then that Mike Douglas was eliminated from the Skeleton competition after he failed to have his sled ready for competition in the alloted time. After hearing about the news he questioned his coach saying "We should have checks in place. I think the head coach should be there to help with that. That didn't happen."

Why is it that after Denny Morrison failed to live up to expectations in the 1,500m in long track speed skating he questioned the training program. "It wasn't that I just got tired and started going slower. It was that I got tired and started skating worse. Is it something with my training program?"

There are others. The facts are that while Canadian athletes are performing admirably in Vancouver the Own the Podium program is not performing as expected. In fact, Canadian athletes showed in Torino that they can perform beyond expectations largely without an Own the Podium program.

Perhaps it is time to scrap the Own the Podium program and start investing into facilities that have a proven history of producing Olympic Medalists. Perhaps it is time that we used the monies from the Own the Podium program and restored the Calgary Olympic Facilities that have proven their ability to produce Olympic medalists. Just a thought.

Stand up and cheer Calgary

2010-02-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

Today marks the half -way point of the 2010 Olympics and like we expected Canadian athletes are excelling. 8 Olympic medals to date, 4 of which are Olympic Gold. Canadians from coast to coast are rejoicing as a result.

Olympic Officials, journalists, and athletes credit the Own the Podium program for Canada's success in Vancouver. However, as reported in previous blog posts Canadians have been excelling at the Winter Olympic Games since 1998. In those Games Canada finished 5th in the overall medal count. In Salt Lake City we were fourth, four years later Canada finished 3rd in the medal count and in Vancouver we currently sit 5th.

Pull the veil a little further back and one will see an all too familiar trend emerging in Vancouver. Virtually all of Canada's medal winning athletes live and train in Alberta. Consider the following:

Jenn Heil - 2nd in the moguls is from Spruce Grove, Alberta

Michael Robertson - Silver in Snow Board Cross - Lives and trains in Canmore, Alberta

Christine Nesbitt - Gold in Long Track Speed Skating - Lives in Calgary

Jon Montgomery - Gold in Skeleton - Lives in Calgary

Kristina Groves - Bronze in the Woman's 3,000 in Long Track Speed Skating - Lives in Calgary

As for the other three medalists - two of them Alexandre Bilodeau and Maelle Ricker frequent the athletic facilities in and around Calgary regularly. And the company that manages these facilities is WinSport Canada.

As the rest of the country applauds the Own the Podium program isn't it time we recognized who is truly responsible for Canada's success at these Games. Stand up and Cheer Calgary! It is you and your Olympic Legacy who is truly responsible for Canada's success at these Olympic Games.

Setting the Record Straight

2010-02-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

It is still early but Canadian athletes are excelling at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. After only Day 5 at the Games Canadian athletes have already broken a curse that has dogged the Canadian Olympic team since 1976, Olympic gold on Canadian Soil.

Up until these Games Canada had the dubious distinction of hosting 2 Olympic Games and never having won Olympic Gold on home soil. Alexandre Bilodeau and his performance in the moguls ensured that there would not be a 3rd time. And Canadian athletes are just getting started. Maille Ricker won gold in snowboarding on Tuesday and many more are to come.

However don't think that the performance of our athletes at the 2010 Games are the exception. For the past decade it has been the norm to see Canadian Athletes on the podium. Yet every time Canada wins a medal at these Games, journalists seem intent on reporting that there has been a change in attitude amongst our athletes.

In the past the typical Canadian attitude towards international competition aside from hockey was "we hope not to embarass ourselves," notes Stephen Brunt of the Globe & Mail. Note to Brunt, at the past three Winter Olympiads Canada has been recognized as the most dominant nation in the world in the sports of speed-skating and curling - not hockey.

Bob McCown of the fan 590 in Toronto reported on his show yesterday that there is a fundamental shift in the attitude of Canadian athletes at these games. He went on to add that the Own the Podium program has installed a winning attitude in our athletes. McCown - did you forget that Canada finished fourth in the overall medal count at the 2002 Olympic Games and 3rd in the medal count in 2006. Canada currently sits 5th at these Games.

Canada is having a great games and lets all hope that this continues, but lets just all remember that Canada has been winning medals at the Olympic Games for the past 14 years. 2010 is not an anomaly. It is just the first time that most journalists have taken the time to notice.

Owning the Podium

2010-02-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

We've read all about it. Canada's winter athletes are poised to win more medals than ever before on account of a $120 million dollar Own the Podium program.

"Everyone recognizes that that has been an incredible success," says Roger Jackson, CEO of Own the Podium, the centrepiece of the new Canadian system.

"It would be fair to say that this will be a seminal moment in sport leadership in this country," adds Chris Rudge CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

However, is the Own the Podium the root cause of this success? Let's not forget that Canada's athletes have improved on their Winter Olympic Medal count at each successive Olympiad for the past 25 years. Further Canada finished third in the Winter Olympic medal count - 1 medal behind the United States - with 24 medals in Torino largely without an Own the Podium type program.

If Canada can win 24 medals at a Winter Olympiad without an Own the Podium type program is $110 million dollars a good use of funds to win an additional 6 projected medals in Vancouver? Is it possible to think that Canada could win 30 medals without an Own the Podium type program, after all Canada's success has steadily improved at each Olympiad? One would think that home soil should certainly assist in turning some of those near misses into medal winning performances.

Maybe just maybe the Own the Podium program isn't the driving force we have been led to believe regardless of how many medals we win in Vancouver.

Roger Jackson and Chris Rudge will certainly tell us otherwise.

Good Luck

2010-02-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

A quick send out to all our Winter Olympic athletes who are presently putting the finishing touches on preparations.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

We as Canadians are proud of your courage to get this far and over the course of the next two weeks will certainly inspire millions of Canadians with your efforts.

Compete hard, but most of all enjoy yourself.

Excellence Redefined

2010-02-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

At the recent Rowing Canada Coaches Conference, Alex Baumann - Chief Technical Officer and Sean Scott - High Performance Advisor of the Own the Podium Program spoke to conference delegates about the future of sport in Canada.

Baumman and Scott laid out a model for the future that focuses on sports excellence and delegates seemed to appreciate the new found approach after years of the "status quo". However, how one defines excellence is another matter in itself.

In the last decade Athletics Canada and Swimming Canada have seen two athletes, men or woman - Perdita Felicien and Brent Hayden - ranked #1 in the world. Meanwhile boxing has had four different men (Lucien Bute, Steve Molitor, Arturo Gatti and Jean Pascal ) who have been ranked at the very top of their sport.

But when one examines as to who benefits from the Own the Podium funding model we see that Athletics Canada and Swimming Canada are the beneficiaries at the expense of boxing. In 2009-2010 Athletics Canada and Swimming Canada are slated to receive $2,811,000 and $3,314,000 respectively in Own the Podium funding. Meanwhile, Boxing's take from the Own the Podium program is $0.

Basketball Canada produced arguably Canada's most dominant and successful athlete over the course of the last decade in Steve Nash. Meanwhile the Canadian Fencing Federation has never had an athlete stand on the Olympic podium and the sport while improving is a virtual after-thought of the Canadian public. However, it is the Canadian Fencing Federation who is the beneficiary of the Own the Podium funding model not Basketball. The Canadian Fencing Federation will receive $860,000 in sport funding in 2009-2010. Basketball $0.

Justin Morneau - became the second Canadian to win the MVP Award in Major League Baseball in 2006. Trampoline has never had a Canadian ranked higher than second in the world. No matter, it is trampoline that receives $960,000 in annual funding from the Own the Podium program . Baseball Canada gets nothing.

Perhaps it is time for the Own the Podium program to re-evaluate its definition of excellence.

"Giving Summer Their Due"

2010-02-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

Canadian amateur athlete fans were bombarded this morning with reports about the apparent demise of our winter sports system following the conclusion of the Winter Olympic Games http://thestar.blogs.com/olympics/2010/02/roger-jackson-who-heads-own-the-podium-the-organization-designed-to-help-canada-win-the-medals-race-at-the-2010-winter-olym.html

Roger Jackson of the Own the Podium program notes in the article that the federal government will only commit to $11 million per annum towards the program following the games. The current level of funding is $29 million. However, what Jackson fails to note is that the Own the Podium program as originally designed should have only received $11 million in funding from the federal government. All remaining funds were to come from private donations. With the games now over, the federal government is being asked to make up the shortfall from private donations as opposed to the program finding corporate support.

Meanwhile on the summer side of the equation, the Summer Own the Podium program as designed requested $84 million dollars in federal funding. They however, currently only receive $8 million dollars in federal funding with a bump to $16 million next year.

Rather than have Canada's winter sport bodies lobby for more than what they were originally intended to receive shouldn't we first look at the shortfall faced on the summer side of the equation. Our winter athletes have received more than their fare share in funding for the last five years. It is time that our government started recognizing that there our summer athletes equally deserving.

The Colbert Factor

2010-01-29T14:24:00.001-08:00

Anyone following US Speed Skating as of late. The organization has found itself a partner in Steven Colbert - host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report - and in the process has become a media darling heading into Vancouver. The lesson is one that Canadian Sport Organizations should emulate

In October of 2009 with the Vancouver 2010 Games still four months away US SpeedSkating was in dire need of cash after its biggest sponsor Dutch Bank DSB went under. With $300,000 in corporate sponsorship suddenly gone - US Speedskating was in need of a white knight and Colbert was happy to fill that role....but not in a financial sort of way.

Colbert agreed to promote the sport on his show and encourage viewers to donate money to the team. In return US SpeedSkaters would wear Colbert Nation logos on their skinsuits. Without any other plan in place US Speedskating jumped at the opportunity and donors have responded. More than 9,000 individuals have donated money (average donation is $30) and the organization has raised close to $300,000. Further, traffic on the sports website has increased two fold and the skaters are garnering huge amounts of media attention.

The success of the Colbert initiative gives light to Canadian Sport Organizations as to how they can raise money. Instead of relying on handouts from traditional sources sport organizations have to start appealing to their fan base. Post video of athletes looking for money on the organizations webpage. Show video from recent competitions. Get athletes to write blogs about their daily trials. Get the fan base involved!. Today the webpage of most sporting organizations here in Canada is bland and boring. Start appealing to the base of your sport.

By interacting with the sports base not only will interest increase but so to will corporate donations.

Nothing Changes

2010-01-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

Great article the other day in the Vancouver Sun about how Canada's politicians are queue jumping and using tax payers money to secure tickets to Olympic events. http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Politicians+score+seats+events+before+public/2480201/story.html

While extremely disturbing to not only the tax paying public the aforementioned article goes to show how all levels of government are using amateur sport. In 2002 federal ministers spent over $397,000 at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which exceeded the budget of many of Canada's National Sport Orgranizations. The article shows that nothing has changed regardless of which political party is in office.

Wouldn't it be nice if all levels of government invested public monies on our amateur athletes, rather than try to fatten their egos. This blogger thinks so.

Finance for Dummies

2010-01-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

Imagine what $104.9 million could do for Canada's Summer Athletes. It would provide the Summer Own the Podium program with resources it requires for the next four years. It would give Canada's amateur athletes a five fold increase in sport funding. The interest alone would give Canada's Summer Sport Organizations an across the board 50% increase in sport funding.

Needless to say Canada's Summer Sport Organizations won't be recieving these monies but this amount of money is exactly what VANOC invested in creating the state of the art Whister Sliding Centre on Whistler-Blackcomb. Following the conclusion of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics the center was to be operated by by the Whistler Legacies Society and help in the future development of all sliding sports in and around the local area. That was the hope.

Unfortunately, the $104.9 million dollar investment was utilized to create a facility on lands owned by Intrawest; a company whose assests are in the process of being foreclosed upon. Presently Intrawest is in default of a $524 million dollar debt payment prompting lenders to seek buyers for the company's assets including the $104.9 million dollar sliding center.

Currently the assets are scheduled to be auctioned off on Feb 19, 2010 which would certainly be an unwelcome disruption to the Winter Olympics. The likelihood of the auction affecting the games themselves is minimal. However, the taxpaying citizens of Canada, British Columbia and Canada's amateur athletes should be questioning VANOC. Anyone in finance will tell you that investing money on property owned by an independant third property is not a sound financial decision. Why was this lost on VANOC?

After the games are over, VANOC's responsabilities will be over, but the impact of this will be felt for a long time. $104.9 million is alot of money in Canada's amateur sporting system and could certainly be put to use. Unfortunately, these monies will be left to the control of Wall Street and they will determine what use it will be to them.

Fat Nation

2010-01-16T19:13:00.001-08:00

For the last decade Canada's Sporting Officials have been lobbying the federal government for increased funding on the premise that increased funding will lead to more medals which in turn will motivate Canadians to get involved in sport.

"I think they understand what we're saying. The critical point is to link the health of Canadians with active lifestyles - it would take a burden off the health budget if more Canadians were involved in sport. And one of the links that accomplishes that is the link of high-performance athletes getting on the podium. Every time that happens, the number of kids involved in physical activity goes up." notes Alex Baumann Executive Director of the Own the Podium Program.

For this blogger the link between Olympic medals and a healthy society was always a poorly contrived theory. Think about it. Using the logic of Canada's Sporting Leaders, municipalities and provinces should pump millions into the CFL or NHL because a championship run, after all, would get kids active. However, despite how irrational the theory was, the federal government seeminly bought it, until maybe now.

A couple of weeks ago, the Canadian Press reported that all Canadians were fatter than they were in 1981. The report went on to add that there was a three fold increase in child obesity since 1981. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gVB3NH3D7S2U3Qn-1e2OvnCCVDcA.

The logic of which wouldn't make much sense if you listened to Canada's Sporting Officials. In 1981 Canada boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and won only 2 medals at the Winter Olympics that very same year. Some 30 years later Canada is poised to win a record number of medals at the 2010 Olympics and returned home from the 2008 Summer Olympics with 18 medals. And yet despite Canada's success at the Olympics, Canadians are fatter, less active and we as a nation are facing a health epidemic as a result.

Here is a thought. Maybe it is time that we as a nation invested in opportunities for our youth. Like Recreation Centres. Just a thought.

Dirty Dick Pound

2010-01-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

Richard Pound is at it once again. Speaking to a business conference in B.C. on Monday January 10, 2010, Richard Pound called figure skating a "nightmare sport" and said figure skaters can't be sure that their sport is immune from judging scandals.

"I don't see much improvement," Pound told the Vancouver Sun, "You don't know what's going through (the judges') minds. It's so corrupt that the judging is anonymous."

While it isn't surprising that Pound would make another ridiculous comment without any real evidence before him, what has become tiresome is Pound's manner for seeking out publicity. Has anyone noticed that Pound reserves his comments until the press actually cares about amateur sports so his image can make front page headlines across the country.

Think about it. In early 2004 - a few short months before the onset of the Athens Games and at the height of Lance Armstrong's popularity here in North America Pound remarked that "the public knows that riders in the Tour de France are doping". Just before the cauldron was lit at the 2004 Games in Athens Pound accused USA Track of being "largely responsible" for doping. In January of 2006 - a few short weeks before the onset of the Olympic Games Pound noted that a third of NHL hockey players were on performance enhacing drugs. And in 2008, on the second day of competition at the Beijing Games when asked about China's human rights record Pound remarked that "Canada was a land of savages".

However, while Pound sits and passes out accusations he should look at himself first. In an article written by Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post she notes the following, "Pound was vice president of the IOC and a representative of the Canadian delegation in 1988 when his countryman, Ben Johnson, was stripped of his gold medal for testing positive for steroid use. Pound was a public defender of Johnson's, arguing that he was essentially innocent, had been manipulated into taking an illegal drug unwittingly. "I'm certain he didn't know," Pound said. "I don't think he has the faintest idea what it's all about." He also said that Johnson had a "guilty body" but not the guilty intent that would have convicted him in a court of law. Johnson later confessed he had used steroids since 1981."

Some time thereafter, Pound became known as an outspoken critic of corruption within the IOC, while at the same time supporting the leadership of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Later as President of the World Anti Doping Agency Pound's agency was a benefector of his board and the Canadian tax-payer. In 2002, Hon Paul Devillers, the then Minister of Sport to Paul Martin, sat as a member on the board of directors of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). As a board member with WADA, Devillers was quoted as saying that anti-doping in sport was part of his mandate. In that year, Sport Canada approved a $1.5 million grant to the World Anti Doping Agency to move their head office to Montreal, Quebec - Pound's home town at the time. This was in addition to $315,000 in operation funding that very same year.

Perhaps it is time that Pound kept his mouth shut and he focused on cleaning up his own act.
Just a thought.

Hiring Process

2010-01-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

In professional sports, the general manager is the most influential and scrutinized individual as he decides how the owner's money is spent. It is the General Manager who is often the difference between a succesful franchise and an abysmal one. In amateur sport, the executive director is often the individual faced with making the difficult decisions and is equally as important to the well fare of the organization as is the general manager in professional sports. Recognizing this, one would hope that the quality of individuals hired for an executive director role in amateur sports would be equally impressive as that of a general manager in professional sports. You decide for yourself.

In 2009, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke to be it's general manager. A former hockey player and Harvard Law Graduate, Burke was first hired by the Vancouver Canucks in 1987 as their Director of Player Operations. In 1992, Burke accepted a position with the NHL front office as Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations. In 1998, Burke left the NHL Head Office to accept a position with the Vancouver Canucks as the team's President and General Manager. Following a six year stint in Vancouver, Burke accepted the General Manager's job in Anaheim where he won a Stanley Cup in in 2007. In 2008, he was recognized by his peers as the league's most outstanding GM before departing for greener pastures in Toronto in 2009. In addition to his role with the Toronto Maple Leafs Burke is also, the Executive Director of USA Hockey.

In 2009, the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association hired Tamara Medwidsky as it's executive director. Tamara was a Collegiate Wrestler with Concordia University winning two national titles in 2000 & 2001. Following graduation, Tamara made an attempt to represent her country at the 2004 Olympics. However, after a dispute in which she filed a legal challenge with the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Asscoation over the selection process of a World Cup Team in 2003, Tamara left the sport in 2004 and accepted a role with Football Canada as a Program Coordinator. Following a three year stint with Football Canada, Tamara returned to Wrestling Canada as a Team Manager. After two years as a Team Manager - Tamara was promoted to the role of Executive Director in 2009.

In 2009 Hockey Canada hired Steve Yzerman to be Executive Director of Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey Team. A 22 year career with the Detroit Red Wings - where he served as the team's captain for 20 of those years - Yzerman retired in 2006 after winning three Stanley Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2002 Olympics. In 2007, Yzerman was named to the role of Vice-President of the Detroit Red Wings where in 2007-2008 he helped guide the team to it's fourth Stanley Cup in 15 years. In addition to his role with the Red Wings, Yzerman was General Manager of Hockey Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Championships where the Men's team won gold. Yzerman was appointed executive director of Hockey Canada's Men's Olympic Team in September 2008.

Perhaps these decisions show why some amateur sports organizations in Canada fail while others aspire to greatness. You be the judge.

VANOC's Lead!

2010-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Congrats to VANOC with their latest initiative. As part of it's Northern Outreach Project VANOC in association with the Canadian Forces and the United Nations Association of Canada, helped see the distribution of sporting goods equipment to 20 northern communties across Canada today.

The sports gear — donated by Nike as well as the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames teams will hopefully foster more play in northern communities, which in turn will lead to increased participation in sport.

This blogger is ecstatic with the initiative and can only hope that sport organizations, their athletes and professional sporting teams here in Canada follow VANOC's lead and get involved with projects of this nature going forward. As we are aware, physical inactivity is a serious concern here in Canada. It is widely acknowledged that Canadians are increasingly struggling with obesity and other health complications associated with inactivity , which is taxing our national healthcare system to a serious degree. The Conference Board of Canada states that healthcare spending because of physical inactivity ranges from $2.1 billion to $5.3 billion annually.

Situations are equally as dire in the United States, which is why the National Football League, and it's players have launched a multi million dollar national campaign titled "Play 60" encourgaging children of all ages to be actively engaged in sport for 60 minutes a day.

While only small in comparison to the NFL's "Play 60" program, the VANOC initiative is a start, and with time the hope here is that a small step today encourages all Canadians to actively promote sport. I know that VANOC has encourged me. Tonight I am going to flood the community rink. What can you do?

Own the Podium

2010-01-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

Own the Podium, introduced in 2005, was designed to get Canada's winter athletes on the Olympic and Paralympic podium more often than had ever been seen before. This would be achieved by prioritizing sport funding based on a sport's potential for success; those sports with a high opportunity of success would be given additional resoucres at the expense of other sports. The initiative at the time was seen as radical for a country whose system for funding amateur sports was seen as largely egalitarian.

In Vancouver, Canada's Winter Olympic and Paralympic Athletes are projected to win more medals than ever before, and for some this level of success is attributed to the Own the Podium program itself. Detractors say that the benefits and failures of the program won't be known until the 2014 and more likely the 2018 Winter Games.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Own the Podium initiative, after reading a splendid article - The Games of our Lives by Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated -
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1163721/index.htm - should the Own the Podium program be applied to Paralympic Sport. This blogger says no.

Not to suggest that our Paralympians don't deserve the same opportunity to succeed as our able body athletes; they do. However, after reading the aforementioned article it is apparent that the Paralympics are more than just winning medals and medal counts and as such the athletes deserve a sport funding program their very own. Our Paralympians deserve a sports program that recognizes the challenges they face just to reach the starting line as opposed to a funding program that examines an athletes placing at the finish line.

Disagree.....read the article.

The Bankrupt Legacy?

2009-12-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

At the 1988 Calgary Olympics Canadian athletes failed to win a single gold medal, however, the impact of the games has far surpassed anyone's imagination. Following the games the venues were sold by the Calgary Organizating Committee to the Canadian Olympic Development Association (CODA) which later became WinSport Canada for a $1. CODA's mandate was to manage the legacy of the Calgary Games so Canadians could produce Olympic medallists at future Olympiads. The vision of Frank King and the Calgary Organizing Committee to create a Winter Sport Institue is seen today. Consider that of the 24 medallists at the 2006 Olympics 16 of them trained in Calgary and surrounding area utilizing the Olympic facilities from the 1988 Games. The number is expected to be even greater in 2010.

Recognzing the legacy of the 1988 Games this blogger hoped that the organizers of the 2010 Olympics Games (VANOC) would try to create a similar type of legacy in Vancouver and Whistler. However, this hope appears to be fading fast. Reports out of the business sections of newspapers in the United States and Canada indicate that some of the facilities are facing bankruptcy. http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/742535--intrawest-scrambles-for-cash Not to worry the 2010 Games won't be impacted, however the legacy that follows could in fact be in real jeopardy. Imagine a scenario where Canada's Olympic visision is managed by a group of bankers on Wall Street. The possibility is a lot closer than you might imagine.

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

Best of the holiday season to everyone out there. With the holiday season upon us thought I would send out my Christmas wish list for Canada's Summer Olympic Community in 2010 and beyond.

1) A recognition by Canada's funding partners of the importance team sports has in the development of athletic skills and the need to fund team sports accordingly.

2) An end to the Summer Olympic Medal Drought for team sports in Canada. The last time Canada won a medal in a team event was a silver medal by Canada's Men's Basketball Team in 1936. Here is hoping that with increased funding that changes in 2012

3) Continued funding for individual team sports in Canada.

4) Canada's Summer Sports Organizations, and the members that serve them, be accountable for their sports performances at upcoming world cups, world championships and Olympic Games.

5) Canada's media, athletes and fans take an interest in the performance of Canada's Summer Sports Organizations at future world cups, world championships and Olympic Games

6) New Blood that is enthusiastic and is willing to make a change in Canada's Sports Organizations as opposed to hiring recycled sports executives and coaches who have shown a history of failure in years past.

7) The creation of a summer sports institute in Canada similar to the one currently in place in Calgary for Canada's Winter Sports athletes.

8) That Canada's Summer Olympians begin to recieve some of the media attention that their winter counterparts have become accustomed to.

9) A return to prominence for Canada's Amateur Boxing Program.

10) Canada's amateur athletes take an active interest in the future of amateur sport in Canada.

Merry Christmas everybody. Here is hoping that my wishes become a reality in 2010 and beyond! Lets work together to ensure that they are.

Canada's Best!

2009-12-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

The accolades are starting to roll in for the world's best athletes as this decade comes to a conclusion. Despite his indiscretions, Tiger Woods is widely regarded as the decade's best golfer. Lance Armstrong is being recognized as this decade's most dominant cyclist. Peyton Manning is the NFL's best. In baseball - dependant upon who you listen to it is A-Rod or Albert Pujols. But who would be recognized as Canada's Best Summer Olympic able-body athlete this decade?

The decision is highly subjective and could include any number of athletes, however, I think the following athletes showed a high level of achievement throughout the decade: They are:

Adam van Koeverden: Medals at two sepearte Olympiads, a world champion, a Lou Marsh award winner in 2004 and an Olympic Gold Medallist, this athlete has been at the very top of his sport for the last six years.

Daniel Nestor: An Olympic gold medallist at the 2000 Olympics, Nestor won all four grand slam tournaments this past decade and is currently the two time defending champion in men's doubles at Wimbledon. Nestor is arguably the most dominat men's doubles player of his era with 64 doubles titles to his record, more than any other active player today.

Steve Nash: At the 2000 Olympics, Nash almost single handily carried Canada's National Basketball program towards the Olympic podium before losing in a quarter final thriller to France. Since then, Nash has been at the very top of his sport, winning the Lou Marsh award in 2005 and is a two time winner of the NBA's most valuable award.

And the winner.....

Jake Wetzel. -Most Canadians have likely never heard of the man but he has been arguably the world's most dominant rower for the past ten years. A dual citizen of both the United States and Canada - Wetzel first competed for the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games. Disatisfied with US Rowing - Wetzel returned home to Canada in 2002 and went on to win the world championships in 2003 in the Open Men's 4-. A year later he found himself in the race of the decade going head to head against famed British Rower Mathew Pincent. Wetzel and his teamates ended up settling for silver losing the gold by less than 2 hundreths of a second. Following the games, Wetzel suffered through back surgery before returning to the sport in 2006. In 2007, Wetzel became a world champion for the second time winning the Men's 8+. And in 2008 Wetzel finally won Olympic gold - winning the men's 8+ race in convincing fashion. Today, Wetzel is a director withCanadian Athletes Now and is using his Ph.D degree from Oxford to benefit the Olympians of tomorrow- today.

Amateur Sport Coalition

2009-12-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

Excellent article written about the need for Canadian Team Sports to rally together and promote the importance of team sports in Canada. The article can be found at http://www.canada.com/sports/Coalition+rallies+Canadian+team+sports/2342226/story.html

Under the Own the Podium program in Canada team sports are suffering at the hands of individual team sports because as Dr. Roger Jackson notes "at best a team sport (like Basketball) can win two medals at an Olympics whereas a sport like swimming can win a plethora of medals."

However, team sports are at the essence of sport development and are at the heart of the long term athlete development model in Canada. In a survey of high performance athletes 90% said they participated in team sports in the developmental stages of their careers and that 73 per cent of the athletes surveyed indicated that participation in team sport was important to their development as an athlete. Despite the fact that Canada hasn't won an Olympic medal in a team sport at a Summer Olympiad since 1936 team sports play an integral role in the development of our national team athletes.

Isn't it time that Canadian sport officials recognized the importance of team sports in Canada and started funding them appropriately. This writer thinks so...

Angels and Demons

2009-12-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Excellent piece in the National Post today about a group of high powered investors who have joined forces and created a Charitable Amateur Athletic Association helping to give a talented group of amateur athletes all the resources they require to win gold in 2010. The piece can be found at http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2332439. The company - B2Ten was founded under the principal of circumenting the tradititional beurocratic route of financing sport in Canada and create a business like approach to making good Olympians - great.

The concept isn't new of course in Canada. Jane Roos and her company Canadian Athletes Now - Previously "See you in Sydney...." has been looking at ways of providing athletes with annual grants of $6,000 per year through chartiable donations from ordinary Canadians.

Looking farther back in the early 1990's a B2Ten type of initiative was put forth in Canada by the unlikeliest of organizations. That organization was the Canadian Olympic Association (Now the COC). At the time the COA ran what was called the Olympic Trust which garnered donations from private corporations and high profile Canadians to help assist Canada amateur athletes in pursuing greatness. And from all signs the concept worked. The 1992, 1994 and 1996 Olympics were then the most sucesful non-boycotted games for Canadian athletes in the history of the Olympic movement.

However, acccording to Paul Henderson, a IOC and COC member, the COA did not like the Olympic trust because it meant that the COA and the trust had to be accountable to its funding partners. "Dick Pound and then COA President Carol Ann Letheran hated this concept," says Henderson. By the late 1990's the initiative was terminated, but the COA had achieved what it wanted. It was no longer required to submit audited financial statements to its investors and the affairs of the organization were hidden from all.

No wonder then that that B2Ten and Roos are not pleased with the current state of affiars. "Private industry is not keen on bureaucracy, not keen on administration, not keen on politics -- unfortunately, for better or worse, when you look at public sector, you look at national amateur sport bodies, more often than not, you find all those elements," says B2Ten Spokesman J.D Miller. Here is hoping that with charibale companies like B2Ten and Roos leading the way things are starting to change for the better.

Summer Sports Executive of the Year

2009-12-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

In sport leagues across the continent executives, writers, coaches and athletes vote on who they would select as their executive of the year across a cross section of sports. The award is an informal one - but no less recognizes excellence on the field of play and as well at the administrative level through organization and franchise success.

Unfortunately within Canada's amateur sports system there isn't such a recognition but what if there was? Who would be Canada's Summer Olympic Executive of the Past Decade?
My nominees are:

Phil Moncton: V.P Technical of Rowing Canada. Phil was elected to the post in 2004 following a disastrous Olympic Games in which Rowing Canada failed to meet expectations. Faced with tough decisions - Moncton severed ties with long time Rowing Canada employees Alan Roaf in 2006 and Laryssa Biesenthal in 2008. In addition, Moncton took a hands on approach in his handling of athlete concerns as exemplified by his decision to have Al Morrow oversee Canada's Lightweight Woman's Program in the winter of 2008. Following the 2008 Olympic Games where Rowing Canada won 4 Olympic medals - Moncton stepped back from matters with the hiring of Peter Cookson but no question - Moncton remains instrumental in the success of the organization today.

Pierre Lafontaine - CEO - Swim Canada - Following the 2004 Olympic Games where Canada's Swim Program nearly imploded - Lafontaine was hired to change the culture in the sport. A Canadian who had worked at the Australian Institue of Sport four years prior to his arrival in Canada - Lafontaine brought real leadership and a sense of a "Can Win" Attitude into the program. The impact was immediate. Today, Canadian Swimmers are a force on the international scene - and what seemed like a pipe dream some four years ago are now breaking world records. The hope is for three Olympic medals in London 2012. Ask Lafontaine and that estimate seems low.

Kevin Tyler - Former Director of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (CACC) at the U of A - Despite the mess within Athletics Canada - Tyler was a shining light. Focusing on Coaching Education Programs, and encouraging participation and excellence in athletics, Tyler amassed a collection of world class athletes that would make the United States Track & Field Association proud; athletes training in Edmonton under Tyler included including Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel, Carline Muir, Brian Barnett. Unfortunately for Athletics Canada - Tyler is now working with UK Athletics.

Danek Nowosielski - HP Director Fencing - What? This may be the first thing one would think as a Canadian has never won an Olympic medal in the sport. However, consider that entering this decade a Canadian had never won a World Championship medal in the sport. Today, Canadian athletes have won three medals at World Championships. Furthermore, the junior program is improving, funding for the sport has nearly doubled in the past five years and the sport has a long term plan to win medals at future Olympiads. Add to all this, the passion of a man who is willing to make a phone call in the middle of the day to disput information that is posted on this very blog - this nomination is well earned.

And the winner is

Anne Merklinger - Former CEO of Canoe/Kayak Canada - Improved coaching, increased participation, enhanced corporate sponsorship, more clubs and Canada's most succesful Summer Olympic Sport over the past three Olympiads. Merlinger is this decade's Summer Olympic Sport's Executive of the Decade.

Summer Sports - Razzie Awards

2009-12-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

"Sport organizations are often the last refuge of the incompetent."

Pierre Lafontaine CEO of Swimming Canada

Each year the Golden Rasberry Award Foundation recognizes the worst that Hollywood has to offer in the Motion Picture Industry. Unfortunately this recognition doesn't extend into amateur sports but if it did here would be my recommendations for this decade's Worst Performance in a Leadership Role with a Summer Sport Organization. The nominees are:

Les Gramantik - Athletics Canada - At the 1996 Olympics Gramantik recommends that world champion decathlete Mike Smith, be given an I.V to help offest the extreme heat in Atlanta. The Olympic favorite is later treated for overhydration and struggles just to finish the competition. Gramantik goes on to coach Canada's track & field teams at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. The result - A single bronze medal. Gramantik is now an assistant in the organization overseeing the sport’s high performance centre in Calgary, Alberta.

Martin Goulet - From the late 1990's through to 2006 Martin Goulet led Canada's middle distance program in the province of Quebec. Unfortunately, those within the sport can't remember Canada's last middle distance runner to hail from the province. No matter. Goulet was recently promoted to the position of chief high-performance officer for Athletics Canada.

Fred Nykamp - Nykamp was appointed Executive Director and CEO of Basketball Canada in 2004. During his tenure corporate sponsorship dropped, membership numbers fell and Canada failed to qualify a men's team at the 2006 World Championships for the first time in nearly 40 years. Recognizing how bad things were Nykamp jumped ship in May 2007 to oversee matters with the Canadian Soccer Association. One problem, however, the Canadian Soccer Association failed to ratify his contract before he quit his post with Basketball Canada. Nykamp was terminated from his duties with the CSA in September 2007.

Dave Johnson - Remember the disaster surrounding the Canadian Swim Program at the 2004 Olympics. Johnson oversaw the program...enough said.

Canadian Cycling Association Board of Directors - Canada's cycling program used to be the envy of the amateur sports world here in Canada. No more. Financial woes, 4 CEO's in the last 6 years, and 0 Olympic medals at the 2008 Olympics for the first time in 20 years have many wondering....what happened?

And the winner is...........

John O' Shea - President of Canada's Amateur Boxing Association - The sport at one time produced some of Canada's most memorable athletes of all time. Oh how times have changed. At the 2008 Olympics Canada had 1 athlete representative in the sport - Adam Trupish. O'Shea blames a lack of funding on the sport's woes saying, "Our facilities and coaching are second to none, what is lacking is the backing." Undeniably cutbacks in federal funding have affected the sport, but the sports woes run much deeper than just money.

Other individuals considered for nomination were

Alan Roaf - Rowing - Two years Canada's rowers would like to forget. However, Canada's summer athletes aren't so fortunate. Roaf was a contritubor in the development of the Summer Own the Podium plan back in 2005

John Paul Cody Cox - Executive Director - Volleyball Canada - A Career administrator - John Paul Cody Cox was appointed to the position of executive director in 2007. Since then Volleyball Canada has had to quit the World Volleyball League. And as for Canada's National Teams. Canada hasn't had a men's or woman's team compete at the Olympic Games since 1996.

The Best of Times

2009-11-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

Like "A Tale of Two Cities" the contrast between Canada's Winter and Summer Programs is no less varying than Charles Dicken's depiction of Paris and London in the late 1700's.

While Canada's Summer Olympic Athletes have struggled for the past decade - Canada's Winter Olympic Athletes are flourishing. Consider that at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Canadians nearly won more medals (41) than they won in the previos 5 Winter Olympiads combined (44). But not only are our Winter Athletes winning more medals than at any time in their history they are also converting on medal winning opportunities more frequently than ever before. When measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded Canadians won a total of 1.76% of medals awarded in the 70's, 2.97% in the 80's, in the 90's Canadian athletes converted 6.26% of the time and now in this first decade of the 21st century - Canadian athletes won 8.43% of all Olympic Winter Medals awarded.

This past decade, in the sports of speedskating, hockey, curling and skeleton, Canadian athletes were more succesful than any other nation in the world. In the sports of figure skating and snowboarding Canada remained a world power, and in the sports of bobsleigh, and cross country skiing, where Canada used to be an also ran, our athletes are now winning medals.

Notable achievements from this past decade are:

Olympic Gold Medallists: Marc Gagnon (Short Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon & Eric Bedard & Jonathan Guilmette & Francois Louis Tremblay & Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Relay), Catriona LeMay Doan (Speed Skating), Jamie Sale & David Pelletier (Figure Skating), Duff Gibson (Skeleton), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2), Men's Ice Hockey Team, Cindy Klassen (Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (Speed Skating), Jen Heil (Freestyly Skiing), Chandra Crawford (Cross Country Skiing)

Multiple Medallists: Cindy Klassen (6 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (3 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon ( 3 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2 medals), Beckie Scott (2 medals - Cross Country Skiing), Anouk Leblanc (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Kristina Groves - ( 2 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Eric Bedard (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Alanna Kraus (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Francois Louis Tremblay ( 2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Speed Skating).

Medals by Sport (in order): Speed Skating - Short & Long Track (21), Curling (4), Cross Country Skiing (3), Ice Hockey (3), Skeleton (3), Freestyle Skiing (3), Figure Skating (2) Bobsleigh (1), Snowboard (1)

The Worst of Times

2009-11-25T19:53:00.000-08:00

“Sport is in a better place now. “Things have changed. We’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk when it comes to athletes. We’re doing a better job.” Diane Jones Konihowski - moments before the start of the 2000 Olympic Games.

With the countdown now having begun to mark the start of a new decade, it is now time to reflect on the decade that just was. For our Summer Olympic Athletes it was a decade to forget. Consider that at three Summer Olympiads this past decade, Canadians won a total of 44 medals or just 1.56% of the 2809 Olympic medals awarded. In fact when measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded - this past decade was Canada's worst showing since the 1970's. Consider that in the 90's Canadians won a total of 2.4% of medals awarded, in the 80's 3.7% and in the 70's, a decade known as one that our Summer Athletes would like to forget, Canadian athletes converted 1.32% of the time.

When examining matters by sport, the results also show that this past decade was Canada's second worst in the history of the modern day games in the sport of Track & Field. Canada hasn't had a decade this bad since the 1950's when no Canadian athlete won a medal. In every other decade Canadian athletes won at least one silver medal in the sport - the exception being this this past one where Canada's best was a single bronze medal. Things aren't any better in boxing where this past decade was arguably Canada's worst since the sport was first introduced in 1920. And when it comes to our swimmers, the medal tally in the pool (2) was Canada's lowest since the 1950's.

Here is hoping the next 10 years are better for all of our Summer Olympic Athletes. Here is hoping.

Notable Achievements by our Summer Athletes in the last decade are:

Gold Medallists: Daniel Igali (Men's Wrestling), Sebastian Lareau & Daniel Nestor (Men's Tennis), Simon Whitfield (Men's Triathlon), Lori Ann Muenzer (Woman's Cycling), Kyle Shewfelt (Men's Gymnastics) Adam van Koeverden (Kayak), Men's 8+ (Rowing) Carol Hunyh (Woman's Wrestling) Eric Lamaze (Equestrian)

Multiple Medallists: Karen Cockburn (3 medals in Trampoline) Adam van Koeverden (1 silver and 1 bronze to go along with his 1 gold medal in the sport of Triathlon) Alex Despatie (2 silver medals - Diving), Emily Heymans ( 2 silver - 1 bronze - Diving), Jake Wetzel (1 silver - 1 gold - Rowing), Caroline Brunet ( 2 silver medals - Kayak), Tanya Verbeek (Woman's Wrestling, Eric Lamaze ( 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal - Equestrian)

Medal Tally by Sport and Ranked From Highest to Lowest (Medals Won at the past three Olympiads): Canoe/Kayak - 7 medals, Rowing - 6 medals, Trampoline - 5 medals, Diving, - 5 medals, Wrestling - 4 medals, Cycling - 3 medals, Triathlon - 2 medals, Equestrian - 2 medals, Swimming - 2 medals, Taekwondo - 2 medals, Tennis - 1 medal, Gymnastics - 1 medal Judo - 1 medal, Sailing - 1 medal, Syncronized Swimming - 1 medal, Track & Field - 1 medal

Hypothetically Speaking

2009-11-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

Imagine for a second. You are Mark Carney, Govenor for the Bank of Canada. You oversee Monetary Policy in Canada, and financial markets react to seemingly every word you speak. Recognizing your high work load, you hire an Executive Assistant to assist you in managing your day. The Executive Assistant you hire is young, but is enthusiastic and has previous banking experience albeit in a local bank handling personal mortgages.

Continuing on with our imaginary situation - economic leaders around the world agree to congregate in New Delhi, India, to help solve the world's economic woes. As the Governor of the Bank of Canada you begin to asemble your team to work with you at this all too important meeting. You agree to bring with you leading experts in the field of economics, statistics, financial modelling. You bring political leaders, or do you.? Imagine, for a second you bring your executive assistant to act as one of your chief economists. Impossible? In the world of finance likely yes, but in Canada's amateur sport system, scenarios like this happen on an all too frequent occurence. The most recent example was the announcement of the mission staff for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Alex Baumann, executive director of the Own the Podium program, oversees Canada's Summer Olympic Program. He is in essence the Mark Carney of Canada's Summer Olympic Program. And to assist him with this cause, the Own the Podium program hired Shelley Milton in January 2008 to be his executive assistant. Previous to this post Shelley was an administrative/project coordinator for Field Hockey Canada. However, with a little more than 12 months on post as an executive assistant for the Own the Podium Program, Shelley was chosen as a Mission Staff Memeber for Commonwealth Games Canada at the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India. And her role will be in the field of coaching and applied science.

Shouldn't we as tax paying citizens, question decisions like these? After all the Commonwealth Games are a premiere sporting event bringing together thousands of athletes across the commonwealth; they help prepare our Olympians for future Olympiads!

Our summer athletes deserve better.........................don't they?

Athletes Canada - An Experiment Gone Wrong.

2009-11-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

Athletes Canada, an independent organization designed to service the needs of Canada’s amateur athletes, was introduced in 1992, based on the desire of Canada’s amateur athletes to have their own voice separate from Canada’s sporting brass. The organization was formed under the leadership of Ann Peel, a race walker on Canada’s track and field team, and consisted of a small independent group of athletes, including, among others, of Olympic gold medallist Kay Worthington in rowing, Olympic medallist Steve Podborski in alpine skiing, and Dan Thompson in aquatics. At the time, the voice of Canada’s amateur athletes was the Athletes’ Council, which was part of the Canadian Olympic Committee. However, Peel and her crew recognized realized how divergent the athletes’ voice was from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).

Recognizing a need to have its own voice - seperate from the COC, Athletes Canada hit the Canadian sports landscape with a bang, demanding increased funding for Canada’s athletes and better representation within Canada’s sporting organizations. “In those first few years we were radical, not nice, and did a lot of things right,” says Peel. “In 1995, athletes received their first carding increase in over ten years and Sport Solution was created to provide athletes with legal information and assistance. We filed appeals on behalf of athletes and demonstrated to sport organizations that athletes had rights.”

Many of the programs created by Peel and her group continue to exist today. However, the organization today is only a shadow of its former self. As Peel herself notes, “I don’t think they are serving Canada’s athletes well.” She goes on to add. “Today, if someone wants a career in sports administration, they use Athletes Canada as a stepping stone compromising their ability to be an effective critic."

The evidence bears out Peel's concerns. Thomas Jones, the past Executive Director with Athletes Canada is now the CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada. Claire - Carver Dias, was elected president of Athletes Canada while also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and later Bobsleigh Canada/Skeleton. Iain Brambell was a board member with Athletes Canada while also working for B.C Athletes Voice. Trevino Betty was a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada while also serving as a board membe with Athletes Canada. Alex Loo is double dipping with Athletes Canada and the COC. Michael Smith was President of Athletes Canada while also serving as a mission staff member with the COC - and was just announced to be a mission staff for Commonwealth Games Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Alexandra Orlando - a board member with Athltetes Canada is also going to the 2010 Games as a Mission Staff Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. So too is Suzanne Weckend. So too is Todd Allison. The list goes on and on and on.

Isn't it time that the Athletes retain its independance from the sport system. Ann Peel thinks so. "To have an effective, independent voice, you cannot compromise your independence by connecting advocacy with your need for a career. The career has to come first. That is why it is always so important that athletic leadership retain its independence from the sporting system.”

If only the board members Athletes Canada who represent Canada's amateur athletes remembered this.

Anyone Keeping Score

2009-11-16T18:44:00.001-08:00

This past weekend Canada's speed skaters dominated the competion winning an incredible 11 medals at world cup stops in Heerenveen, Netherlands and Marquette Michigan.

At the last ISU World Cup stop, prior to the start of the 2010 Olympics for Canada's short track speed skaters, Canadian athletes brought home an incredible 7 medals; 4 of which were won in the individual 500m event. On the Men's side Francois Louis Tremblay took home gold while Charles Hamelin won bronze. Our woman led by Kalyna Roberge won silver and Maryanne St. Gelais took the bronze. In other events, Francois Hamelin won bronze in the individual 1,000m. Canada's men's and woman's relay teams closed out the event winning gold and bronze respectively.

Canada's long track speed skaters fared equally as well at the 3rd World Cup Stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Christine Nesbitt took home gold in the1,000m and silver in the 1,500m narrowly edging out Kristina Groves in the process who won bronze. The two skaters then teamed up together in the Woman's pursuit to take home gold.

And despite the sucesses this past weekend, the facts are; things can only get better. Denny Morrison, a world champion in men's 1,500m has yet to find his form this season, and Canada's most decorated athlete in the sport, Jeremy Wotherspoon is returning to action following a serious injury in December 2008 that forced him to miss the past 10 months. Don't forget about Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen - Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes. We all know come Olympic time they will be ready. And then there are the intangibles. Jamie and Jessica Gregg, a brother and sister tandem whose father is former NHL Defenceman Randy Gregg, could challenge for individual medals in Vancouver as could Justin Warsylewicz, an Olympic silver medalist from Torino.

With the Vancouver Olympics now only 100 days away things are certainly looking favorable for Canada's Speed Skating Team. And the question on most Canadians minds is...can they top the 12 medals they won at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. This writer says...easily.....Better start keeping score!

Pan-Am Euphoria

2009-11-11T17:56:00.000-08:00

On Friday November 6, 2009 Toronto, Ontario was selected as host city for the upcoming 2015 Pan-American Games. The announcement brought instant euphoria to sporting officials who have longed appealed to the federal government for enhanced sport funding in Southern Ontario.

In the next six years Southern Ontario will witness the construction of a brand new aquatics facility, plus a pair of 50m training pools, an interntional sized indoor velodrome and many other much needed athletic facilities. But will constrcution of these facilities benefit Canada's high perforamance programs leading into - and following the games themselves. History indicates no.

Since 1976 Canada has hosted an Olympic Games (Montreal), two Commonwealth Games (Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994) , a Pan-American Games (Winnipeg in 1999), a Universaide Games (Edmonton in 1983)and countless world championships - and none of these events have been leveraged to bring Canada's Summer Sports Organizations together. In fact it could be argued that Canada's Summer Olympic System is worse off today than it was in early 80's - despite a plefora of world class events hosted on Canadian soil.

Truthfully, only the 1988 Calgary Games have effectively managed the legacy of a multi-sport Games thereby benefiting Canada's winter Olympic athletes. Some 20 years after the conclusion of the1988 Olympics - all 15 of Canada's winter sport organizations train in a sporting insitute right here in Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary, Canada's winter athletes have access to every imaginable service and resoucre they require to be competitive with the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Canada's winter Olympic athletes are poised to stand atop the podium in Vancouver more often than any other nation in the world.

Meanwhile, Canada's Summer Athletes are envious of their Winter Olympic cousins. They train out of make-shift facilities that lack many of the modern amenities that our winter athletes enjoy. Furthermore, they find themselves scattered across the nation with one group of athletes in Victoria another in Halifax and the remainder in regions in between. It is with little wonder then that our summer athletes aren't as succeful as they could/should be.

Here's hoping that the 2015 Pan-American Games changes all that.....here's hoping.

The Rich Get Richer

2009-11-08T08:09:00.001-08:00

This past weekend Rowing Canada staged the 2009 National Rowing Championships in London, Ontario. The regatta invites athletes from across the country who compete in either singles or pairs for the honor of being acclaimed National Champion.

The event is relatively unique in its format in that it is restricted to small boats (singles and pairs) and invites athletes with varying skill levels, ages and abilities. But after observing the proceedings one thing is abundantly clear. Canada's men's program will be a force in the next Olympic quadrennial.

In attendance were Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Rutledege, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and Kevin Light - who from appearances - appear commited to train on a full time basis through to London 2012. They join a group of athletes that includes Gabe Bergen, James Dunaway and Steve VanKnotsenburg who were members of Canada's silver medal winning 8+ at the 2009 World Championships and as well Michael Brathwaite - Bronze Medallist at the 2009 U23 World Championships. All of who were in attendance in London.

And now add to the mix are the intangibles who weren't there but from the sounds of things might be returning. In conversing with with Assistant National Team Coach Alison Dobbs, Olympic Gold Medallists Jake Wetzel, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton and Brian Price have asked to be placed back on famed head coach Mike Spracklen's mailing list - indicating to many that a return is inevitable.

And despite the depth of talent in attendance and the discusson surrounding those who weren't - the winner of the Men's pair at the 2009 National Rowing Championships were a pair of 19 year olds; Colin McCabe, and Anthony Jacobs. The future truly is bright within Rowing Canada.

Orlando Please Stand Up

2009-10-31T17:54:00.001-07:00

Athletes Can - an organization representing the rights of Canada's amateur athletes staged their flagship event - the Athletes Forum in Vancouver B.C some three weeks ago. The purpose of the event is to bring athlete leaders from a cross section of amateur sports together and discuss issues that impact Canada's amateur athletes. And there are a number of them....some of which are

80% of Canada's amateur athletes live below the poverty line?
The Disparate Nature of Amateur Sport in Canada.
What happens after the Vancouver 2010 Games?
Poor athlete representation.........(an issue for another day).

However, in reviewing the blog of Alexandra Orlando - Canada's most prominent athlete in the sport of rythmic gymnastics - one wonders if any of these issues were discussed. She writes "So here is my ode to AthletesCAN Forum 2009. Each morning started with an hour of yoga and went right into an amazing (oh, sorry no adjectives) breakfast." Orlando adds "We then entered the Delta Hotel Richmond’s ballroom where we began a day of super fascinating presentations. The first speaker was the President of AthletesCAN, who answered my burning question: “What is AthletesCAN?”

Orlando is an athlete we as Canadians should respect. She broungt home an incredible 6 gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is a shining light in the sport that is largely dominated by Eastern European Nations. But she is naive. Yoga, is not going to solve the issues of the day for Canada's amateur athletes and as an athlete rep would would hope that her burning question would be a little more thought provocative than...."What is Athletes Can".

Orlando, however, isn't unlike a number of Canadian athletes today. After a succesful career in amateur sports athletes like Orlando long for the life of an sports administrator. And Athletes Can is just such an organization. Spend a few years and volunteer your time with Atheltes Can...enjoy some free breakfasts do some Yoga and see your career in sports administration take off. The script is following suit for Orlando. Orlando is going to the 2010 Commonwealth Games as an administrator!

Nine Lives?

2009-10-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

On October 22, 2009 CanoeKayak - Canada's most succesful summer sport in terms of Olympic medals won over at the past three Olympiads- named Lorraine Lafreniere as Director General to replace the outgoing Anne Merklinger. Merklinger is largely credited (and rightfully so) for the success Canoe/Kayak Canada has enjoyed over the past decade leaving this blogger to wonder what Canoe/Kayak Canada is thinking.

Lafreniere was a carreer adminstrator having worked at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Coaching Association of Canada, Canadian Wheelchair Association before landing her first job with a National Sports Organization (Cycling Canada) in 2007. As CEO of Cycling Canada, Lafreniere openly admitted that she knew little of the organization she headed and it showed. Olympic medal winning performances in the sport went from 2 in 2004 to none in 2008. Road Races that were once fixtures of the sporting landscape disapeared. And as a result Cycling Forums had a field day with the woman http://www.cyclingforums.com/canada/379683-tell-us-lorraine.html before she finally resigned in March 2009.

In naming Lafreniere to head the organization Canoe Kayak Canada credited Lafreniere with instilling financial stability and strong high performance programs within Cycling Canada. If only
they researched the matter. During her tenure the sport faced financial difficulty while high performance programs were "restructured" (Dropped - according to this blogger) to deal with the financial woes.

Fortunately for Canoe/Kayak Canada individuals like Graham Barton remain, but with Lafreniere at the helm one has to wonder when even the sports most ardent supporters jump ship.

The Sweet Science No More.

2009-10-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

Remember the days of Lennox Lewis, Shawn O' Sullivan and Willie Dewitt; amateur boxers who were once the pride of Canadian amateur sport. The Canadian Boxing Association wish you did. In a era where Canada's amateur boxing system was ranked in the top 10% in the world in the late 80's and early 90's the organization has fallen upon hard times and is now ranked in the bottom 10% of the world today. What happened?

The answer is a hard one to determine but no doubt can be a culmultion of lack of funds and internal struggles within. To start with funding one has to go back to 1995. In 1995 the government of Canada financed sport to the tune of $47 million per annum, of which $468,000 went to the sport of boxing. By 2006, sport funding had nearly tripled to $140 million per annum, but only $413,000 of that went to the Canadian Boxing Association, a decrease of nearly 11 percent. While certain sports have reaped the windfall of enhanced sport funding Boxing Canada has been a steady loser.

Internally things aren't much better. Pat Fiacco, an official with Boxing Canada and the mayor of Regina claims there is a serious lack of leadership within Boxing Canada. “The current administration is dysfunctional at best,” he says. “There isn’t a permanent national coach, there is no national training centre, our funding has been reduced, and we have half the membership we used to have."

All of which may explain why boxing, once one of Canada’s prolific sports, hasn’t produced an Olympic medallist in twelve years, failed to win a single gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games for the first time in its history, and qualified a single athlete – Adam Trupish – to the 2008 Olympic team.

Interestingly however, Canada's boxers are still amonst the very best.....professionally. Steve Molitor and Artruro Gatti are Canadian legends within the sport. So why is it that Sport Canada, the Own the Podium Program and the COC are allowing the sport to self destruct when it is evident that the sport can continue to produce Olympic medallists.

Isn't it time for someone to assist in the lab find another potion and re-discover the Sweet Science. This blogger thinks so.

Torch Bearer

2009-10-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

With the 2010 Games now only months away debate will certainly rage on for the next few months as to who should light the Olympic Cauldron in Vancouver. Wayne Gretzky - Canada's most recognizable sport figure will certainly be given consideration but having only competed at one Olympic Games (1998) - and never having won an Olympic medal of any color - Gretzky's name should be quickly looked over.

Nancy Greene - an Olympic gold medallist at the 1968 Games in Grenoble - and securely linked to the sport of skiing will be given some thought, however, recognizing her role within the Canadian Senate political interference might prevent her name from being put forward.

There will be other notables of course and each will come with their own merits. However, the name that should be put forward is that of Gaetan Boucher - the man who helped create the foundation of Canada's dominant rise in Winter Olympic Sport.

Prior to Boucher's double gold and bronze medal winning perforamances in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Games - Canada's performance in Winter Olympic Sport was limited to say the least. At the 1980 Games in Lake Placid - Canada won 2 medals one of which was by Boucher himself - a silver in the 1,000m - the other by Steve Podborski in Downhill Skiing. Canada hadn't won Olympic gold since 1976 (Kathy Kreiner) and no athlete had ever won multiple medals at a Winter Olympiad.

It was Boucher's performance in 1984 that helped spark interest in the sport of speed skating and spurned the start of Canada's next generation of Olympic athletes. Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves - two athletes who are expected to win medals in 2010 cite Boucher as the reason they first tried Speed Skating.

Perhaps it is time we recognized his legacy.

Schalm Wins Silver

2009-10-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Canada finished the 2009 world fencing championships with a best ever finish; a silver medal winning performance from Sherraine Schalm. In fact Schalm nearly won gold pushing her opponent to overtime after a 8-8 draw in regulation failed to solve matters. Schalm bowed out 20 seconds into the final never the less the performance was an impressive one.

In a sport dominated by Eastern Europeans - Schalm's success at the world championships is all the more impressive when one considers the envioronment from which she comes from. In Canada, fencing is seen as having little medal potential in future Olympiads.

However, Schalm claims that her success can in part be attributed to her decision to train as as a full time athlete in Hungary.

Unfotunately training in Hungary comes with its own hurdles. Entering the 2008 Olympics Schalm was considered a medal hopfull in the sport having won bronze at the 2005 world championships. However, shortly before the start of the 2008 Olympics, Schalm was told by her coach that she was no longer welcome to train with the Hungarian national team; She lost in the opening round of the Games to a Hungarian.

Never the less if not for the decision to train abroad, one doubts if Schalm would have ever gotten to the world championships in 2009 let alone win a medal. It is with little wonder then that after winning silver she burst into tears. The journey has been a long one.

The Launch

2009-10-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

Heatstroke, Why Canada's Summer Olympic Program is Failing and how We can Fix It, by Michael Simonson,is a passionate diagnosis of Canada's Summer Olympic performances and the disparate nature of amateur sport in Canada.

With over 80 per cent of all athletes living below the poverty line and billions of dollars being applied towards various sport causes, only our athletes have an interest in improving things within Canada. Heatstroke exposes the systemic causes of Canada's Summer Olympic failures against the backdrop of the country's increasing Winter Olympic success and the rise of summer athletes in Australia, a country that used to trail its northern Commonwealth cousin. Written with an understanding of Canada's wide-ranging affection for sporting activities, Simonson looks to preserve this part of our cultural identity, but something has to be done and fast.

"Unless Canadians start speaking to the importance of sport, we are at risk of losing a large piece of our cultural fabric in Canada," says Michael Simonson. "We need to examine Canada's Winter Olympic system and implement many of the ideas and programs if our summer athletes are going to be successful."

Simonson speaks about the politics that lie beneath the surface of Canada's Olympic movement, as well as within the country's amateur sport system, coaching ranks and amongst athletes themselves. He argues that Canada's summer athletes can replicate the success that Canadians have come to expect of their winter counterparts without it requiring a fundamental shift in societal and fiscal priorities.

"We don't seem to have the same leadership in summer sports," says Frank King, president of the Calgary Organizing Committee for the 1988 Winter Olympics. "We can't seem to get things together - but if ever there was a model on how to do it, all summer sports would need is to look at how our winter sports did it."

With interest in amateur sport greater than it has ever been, there is no better time for change than now. In Heatstroke, Simonson provides his own plan that will help restore our sporting legacy at the SummerOlympics while maintaining our present rate of success at the WinterGames.

The official book launch of Heatstroke will take place at the Gerry Thomas Gallery (602 11 Avenue SW) on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include a copy of the book. To purchase tickets, call403.589.2989. Heatstroke can also be purchased online at www.heatstrokethebook.com for $19.95.

Dwindling Moments

2009-10-04T21:13:00.001-07:00

With the talk surrounding Canada's top 10 Winter Olympic Moments one has to wonder what a Summer List would like like. In particular what athletic moments would resonate with the Canadian public today?

There is Donovan Bailey's gold medal winning performance in the 100m in Atlanta. As well who could forget Canada's gold medal winning victory in the 4 x 100m relay in the very same games. Going further back the 1992 Games saw Lennox Lewis first make a name for himself and who dares forget the 1988 Games that saw Ben Johnson win Olympic gold in the 100m dash in a world record time of 9.79 seconds. The 1984 Games had Willie Dewitt, Shawn O'sullivan, Anne Ottenbrite, Alex Baumann andVictor Davis. However some of these performances occurred over 25 years ago and are now but a distant memory for most Canadians. Meanwhile Cindy Klassen, Catriona Lemay Doan, Sale & Peltier are the names of the day. Unfotunately these names are associated with winter sport in Canada.

When it comes to the Summer Olympic Games Lemaze, Hunyh, Shewfelt, Muenzer, Hamilton are some of those that have produced Canadian gold this decade - but are they memorable Olympic moments? Only Canada can answer that, but who are they again?

Top Five

2009-09-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

Last week CTV came out with a list of its ten most memorable Winter Olympic memories. And as per usual the list was dominated by athletic performances over the past three Winter Olympiads. In fact there were only two achievements on the list that predated the 1998 Games in Najano, Japan and only 1 Olympic performance that predated the 1980 Games in Lake Placid;. that being Nancy Greene's gold medal performance in downhill skiing at the 1968 Games.

My top five list is as follows

#5) Barbara Ann Scott's Gold Medal Skate at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games becoming the first and only Canadian to win individual gold in the sport of figure skating.

#4) Elizabeth Manley. In what was supposed to be a battle of Carmens since both Debi Thomas and Katerina Witt both skated to the music from the opera Carmen, Elizabeth Manley came from out of no where to take Olympic silver. Who could forget the jubilation that Manley expressed while doning a white cowboy hat at the conclusion of her performance.

#3) Gaetan Boucher - In what was an unthinkable achievement at the time Gaetan Boucher skated to double gold in the sport of speed skating at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Boucher's two gold medals were Canada's first in the sport and Canada's first gold medal in any sport (winter and summer alike) since Kathy Kreiner's win at the 1976 Winter Games.

#2) Nancy Greene - Her Gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble France has linked her name to the sport ever since.

#1) Gold Medal Victories in Hockey at the 1952 and 2002 Games. Before the 2002 Games Canada's last gold medal in the sport of ice hockey was won by the Edmonton Mercury's at the 1952 Games in Oslo Norway. That is until Mario Lemieux and team went out and broke a 50 year curse and sent jubillant Canadians from coast to coast to the streets.

Tough Love

2009-09-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday September 30th 2009 Canada's woman's basketball team opens up the 8 team FIBA America's championships against the Dominican Republic. The top three teams from the tournament will go on to earn spots at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Czech Republic; an important first step for an organization that has had its fair share of troubles this decade.

Since the 2000 Olympic Games - where Steve Nash almost single handidly carried Canada's Men's basketball team to the medal podium before bowing out to France in the quarterfinals, Canada's basketball program has fallen on hard times. Not only did Canada’s men’s and woman’s teams fail to qualify for both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, Canada’s men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Championships for the first time in over 40 years.

In the front office things aren't any better. In 2004 Basketball Canada suffered a black eye for its controversial firing of Jay Triano as the men's team coach. Two years later Fred Nykamp- the executive director jumped at the chance to leave the organization for the Canadian Soccer Assocation - an organization with its own public trials. In 2008 the organization was accussed of charging athletes to atttend training camps and later that same year Sam Dalembert - arguably Canada's best player - publically refused to play for caoch Leo Rautins and Canada ever again.
Rautins remains.

Fortunately Canada's Basketball Program, found some inspiration on the men's side when it recently nabbed a spot in the 2010 world championships. And Canada's Woman's program tries to do the same at the end of September. However, one could argue that whatever progress the sport has made in the last year has been in spite of the national governing body, rather than because of it

Year One Review

2009-09-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Canadian Sport Officials are on record of saying that its goal for the 2012 London Olympics is a top twelve finish in the overall medal count. Strong stuff indeed for a country that finished tied for 15th with 18 medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. So how are Canadians doing?

At the 2009 World Rowing Championships Canada's rowers won 1 medal, in 2008 Canadian rowers returned home with 4 Olympic medals. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep improved on her bronze medal wining performance from the 2008 Olympic games returning home with silver from the 2009 IAAF World Track & Field Championships. Unfortunately, the rest of Canada's Track & Field Team was blanked from the medal count.

Canada's swimmers and divers did improve on their performance from the 2008 Olympic Games - winning a combined 5 bronze medals in 2009 as opposed to 3 a year ago. However, the improvements end there. In Canoe/kayak Canada won two bronze medals. In Beijing same thing.

If you are keeping score at home, Canada returned home with 10 Olympic medals in the sports of rowing, swimming, athletics, canoe/kayak and diving. In 2009 Canada has won 9 medals + one additional one in woman's water polo.

With the world championships in wrestling, gymnastics still to come it is likely that Canada will improve on its medal haul. After all Canada did win 4 Olympic medals in these two sports in 2008. However, the likelihood of Canada showing marked improvement in its summer sporting activities in 2009 is slim.

In China, Canadians won its medals in the sports of Diving, Swimming, Athletics, Swimming, Rowing,Canoe/Kayak, Woman's Wrestling, Trampoline, Equestrian, and Judo. And while Canada's prospects for success in these disciplines are strong in the years to come, the likelihoold for success outside of these sports in 2012 is unlikely. Under the Summer Own the Podium Program (Previously known as Road to Excellence) Canadian sport officials are targeting sport funding to those sports which have a history of past success, and reducing funding to those that don't. As such if a sport didn't medal in 2008 - Canadians shouldn't expect medals in 2012.

Recognizing the above, any prospects for success for 2012 should be based on reviewing the success rate with those sports that won medals in 2008. And in reviewing the results year to date at 2009 World Championships it appears that little has changed and maybe even deteriorated from a year ago.

A Legend?

2009-08-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Spracklen's boys look like they just might do it again. Canada's Men's eights started off the World Rowing Championships in Poznan Poland with a convincing victory giving them a birth in Sunday's final on the on the 30th of August.

A while the performance shouldn't come unexpected for a man who seems to win no matter what the circumstances it is truly impressive when one considers that Spraklen's Men's eight has rebuilt itself from its gold medal winning victory at the Beijing Olympic Games. Gone are cox Brian Price, Stroke Kyle Hamilton, Adam Kreek, Ben Rutledge, Kevin Light, Jake Wetzel and Dominic Seiterle and in their place come 7 athletes who didn't even compete in Beijing. But no matter. Spraklen has put his men's eight in a position where they just might win the world championships for the fourth time in the last eight years.

So what is the secret? Hard Work. Relying on the principle that the harder a person works, the more their body adjusts to the work, Spracklen squeezes every last drop of energy out of his athletes each and every day. For some, including many of Canada’s sport physiologists, it is too much, but those who compete for the man believe in him and his refinements.

“There’s no magic in it,” says athlete Jake Wetzel. “The whole time he puts us out of our comfort zone. You’re rewarded for failure, for pushing to the point where you fall apart. You’re not rewarded for mediocrity.” And so they keep pushing.

A self-obsessed rowing fan, Spracklen monitors every one of his twenty-plus weekly training sessions, ensuring that his athletes are piling up the mileage so that even on their worst day the team can walk away with the gold. It seems to be working.

CanoeKayak Canada's Loss

2009-08-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Anne Merklinger director general of Canoekayak Canada announced today that she was leaving the organization she has served proudly for the last 15 years to become the director of summer sport for the Own the Podium program. And while a coup for the Own the Podium program the announcement comes at a big loss to an organization she helped resurect.

When Merklinger came to Canoekayak Canada the organization had limited funding and won a single Olympic medal from 1988 through to 1996. Since then, CanoeKayak Canada has won eight medals at the past three Summer Olympiads. And in Adam van Koeverden and Caroline Brunet, the organization has produced two of Canada’s most decorated Olympians.

An athlete in her own right first as a national team swimmer then as an elite curler, Merklinger understood that the key to a sport organization was to direct as many resources as possible towards its athletes and coaches. Today, seven coaches work with the Canadian national team while regional coaches have been hired to identify and train paddlers across the country.

The benefactor is the sport itself. Not only is canoe-kayak Canada’s most successful sport at the past three Summer Olympiads, but as Merklinger herself acknowledges, “Athletes in competitive programs have increased by twenty, or twenty-five percent. In 2003, we had forty-five clubs. Now, we have eighty. Twenty-five (of those clubs) have full-time year-round coaches. There are a lot of opportunities to be a professional canoeist and kayaker.”

`Anne is an extraordinary talent whose athletic background, business acumen and leadership skills bring immense value to our organization as Own the Podium continues to deliver the resources Canadian athletes need to excel against the world's best,'' Alex Baumann, executive director (summer), for Own the Podium said in a statement.

In her new role Anne will help bring recommendations to the senior management team, lead annual reviews, and develop new programs and policies to help Canada's summer Olympians reach their full potential. If history is any indicator Anne will thrive in her new role creating enhanced opportunities for all summer sport athletes except for maybe Canada's canoeists and kayackers who only yesterday had Anne all to themselves.

Running Away

2009-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

What if you held a track & field meet and no one showed up? In the case of Canada's track & field team Athletics Canada seems prepared to do its very part in testing that theory at the 2009 World Track & Field Championships.

Consider the following:

There are no Canadian women in the distance events, once one of Canada's biggest strengths on the track.
There is one Canadian man running in an invididual sprint event;
Aside from the hurdles there are no Canadian woman running in an individual sprint event.

From injuries, to restrictive standards, to coaching changes and even fatigue answers vary as to why Canada isn't sending athletes in individual track events. Excuses aside, however, the team - or lack thereof - that will represent Canada at the 2009 World Track & Field Championships shows just how far the sport has fallen in recent years.

A sport that once was Canada's most prolific at the Summer Olympics has won just 1 medal at the last three Olympic Games. Household names within the sport are non-existent, while membership levels within the sport are falling perhaps explaining why Canada will have only 5 athletes run an individual track event in Berlin.

Brain Drain

2009-08-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

The overwhelming consensus of a recent study conducted by the Canadian Coaching Association of Canada was that Canada's coaches need to be paid more. Amongst the findings was that
more than half the men and women training Canada's current and future Olympians earn less than $20,000 annually from their primary coaching job, and another 15 per cent are volunteers.
Amongst a series of options "that might improve the situation for high performance coaches," was to pay them more.

Recognizing the dire financial straits placed upon Canada's coaches it is with little wonder that Canada's best young coaches are leaving the country for greener pastures.

In January of 2009 Kevin Tyler - arguably Canada's brightest track & field coach having led famed sprinters Tyler Christopher, Adam Kunkel and Caroline Muir to world stardom - accepted a job with UK Athletics as the strategic head of coaching and development. Some 6 months later Derek Everly - Tylers replacement in Canada - followed suit by accepting a job with UK Athletics. But don't think the exodus stops with the sport of Athletics. Triathlon coach Joel Filliol, who guided Simon Whitfield to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, was hired as Britain's head triathlon coach, while Peter Eriksson, who helped wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc to five gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing, was also scooped up by the British.

However, not everyone in Canadian sport is concerned. Gary Lunn, the federal minister for sport, noted "I don't think it's always just about money,(referring to the lack of money paid to Canadian Coaches). I've had these conversations with Alex (Baumman) and he completely supports me, that sometimes we need to find a better way." Maybe so, but in the meantime it appears anyways that Money talks and Canada's coaches are starting to listen.

The Emergence of Canadian Swimming?

2009-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

A world record coupled with three medal winning performances by Canada’s National Swim Team at the recent 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships evoked memories of its glory days in the mid 80’s and early 90’s.

In an era where world record swims and gold medal winning performances seemed like a daily occurrence, Canada’s swim program fell upon hard times in the late 90’ and on into the 21st Century. Hitting rock bottom at the 2004 Olympic Games where no Canadian swimmer placed higher than fifth and only two Canadian swimmers posted best times Canada’s swim program was in need of new blood.

Following those now disastrous games, Swimming Canada hired internationally acclaimed Pierre Lafontaine with the sole purpose of restoring Canada’s swimming lore. A Canadian with a history of success in both the United States and Australia, Lafontaine brought energy and direction into a program that was rudderless in Athens.

Since 2004 Lafontaine has helped restore Canada’s club and national team while at the same time increasing the visibility of the sport to Corporate Canada. Cheerleader, ambassador, enforcer, and leader, Lafontaine is a man who seems to wear every hat imaginable within the organization. Couple that with an energy level that rivals that of a five year old child - Lafontaine’s imprint is starting to show.

Consider that Mike Brown won Canada’s first gold medal in over eight years in the sport of swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2007 Brent Hayden won Canada’s first swimming world championship in over 21 years. In 2008 Ryan Cochrane won Canada’s first Olympic medal in over eight years with a bronze medal swim in the 1,500m. And now at the 2009 World Aquatic Championships Canada finished the week long event with 2 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and a world record – not bad for a sport that many considered un-reparable only 5 years ago.

The Shirt off their Backs

2009-06-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

After witnessing their winter counterparts catapult to Olympic stardom with a third place finish in the overall medal count at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Canada's summer athletes started questioning, "Why not us?" However, glory takes money and support something Canada's winter athletes had an ambudence of heading into the 2006 and now the 2010 Olympic games.

At the heart of Canada's Winter Olympic successes was the Own the Podium (OTP)program, a radically new type of initiative that sought to place Canada in the top three of the medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics and on the medal podium in 2010 more often than had ever been accomplished before. A short year later, Canada’s winter sporting body achieved the first of its goals in Torino. Witnessing the success of their winter counterparts, Canada’s summer athletes soon began to ask, “What about us?”

In response, Canada's sporting brass implemented the Road to Excellence plan; a plan that, in essence, replicated the OTP program in every way except for one. The OTP Plan recieved every dime of its requested $110 million while the RTE plan plan recieved a measly $10 of its requested $510 million in funding. It wasn't until two years after its initial launch, that the federal government came forward and agreed to provide the RTE Plan with some monies - albeit a fraction ($72) of the requesed $510 million. And at that the program will now have to settle for a paltry $8 million in 2008-2009 before a continued source of funding arrives ($16 million in 2010 and $24 million in 2011 and 2012).

With the 2010 Games now only a few months away and the 2014 Winter Games on the horizon, Canada's winter brass is starting to look plan for life without an OTP Plan - (It was set to terminate following the conclusion of the Vancouver Games). And their sights? The $24 million in funding from Canada's RTE Program.

Following the 2010 Games Canada's RTE Plan and its summer athletes will be asked to share its $72 million in government funding with their winter counterparts leaving them with an even smaller pie to work with. Own the Podium it is not. And as for the success of Canada's Summer Athletes in 2012? Lets just hope that global warming is a myth. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow!

Voices from Oz

2009-05-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

The COC Athletes Council representing the views of high-performance athletes, is tasked with reviewing and providing recommendations to the Canadian Olympic Committee on a range of issues that directly impact Olympic and Pan American Games hopefuls. It meets to discuss such issues as team selection and planning, funding allocation and how to best support Canadian athletes to help them achieve podium success at upcoming Olympic Games.

Following the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, six athletes were elected by their peers to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council to represent the concerns of Canada's amateur athletes over the next Olympic quadrennnial. Amongst those athletes is Iain Brambell - who is currently chair of the Athletes Council and has sat on the COC's Executive Committee since 2004, but are Canada's amateur athletes benefiting?

Brambell, is currently residing in Australia, and is over 7, 000 miles and a half a world away from the issues facing Canada's amateur athletes. With Brambell now consumed with matters in Australia and Canada's amateur athletes facing a number of important issues isn't it about time Brambell did the honorable thing and resign from his position? After all, one has to wonder if Brambell would have been re-elected to the council , if Canada's amateur athletes were informed that he was setting up shop in Australia after the Beijing Games.

Solving the Ovals Owes

2009-05-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

With the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games now only a few months away Canadian athletes are in full preparation mode. The training is now a little more intense, the focus a little sharper and the time frame a little shorter with each passing day. At the heart of this final prepatory push is a sporting system that gives athletes access to sporting facilities more often than ever before. However, in the face a global recession unforseen in this land for over 80 years sporting facilities are closing their doors as oppossed to opening them. This situation is particulary dire at the Olympic Oval in Calgary where Canada's National Speed Skating Team is training.

Over 50% of the Olympic Oval's operating budget is derived from WinSport Canada, an organization who has seen over $40 million dollars in legacy funds vanish in the wake of the 2008 stock market meltdown. The net effect is that the operating budget of the Olympic Oval has been cut from $3.9 million to $2.1 million resulting in the facility having to close its doors for 7 of the next 12 months. That means some of Canada's top medal hopefuls will have to wait until September fo 2009 to set foot on the fastest track in the world. The facility normally opens in July and the delay could cost Canada's Speed Skating Team medals in Vancouver, unless money can be found and fast.

Fortunately, $22 million in readily available through the Own the Podium Program - and could help alleviate the economic woes faced by the Oval and its tenants . The $110 million dollar Own the Podium Program, funded in part by the federal government was introduced in 2005 to give Canada's athletes the resources they need to succeed at the 2010 Olympics. With an annual budget of $22 million per annum one would could argue that the problems facing Canada's Speed Skaters could be readily solved by a program whose very purpose was to give athletes the resources they need to win in Vancouver. Why is it then than Canada's Speed Skaters continue to beg?

Could the Global Recession affect Calgary's Olympic Legacy?

2009-04-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

The 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics not only left a lasting imprint on the city of Calgary, it also created the foundation for the creation of a sporting institute where all of Canada’s best winter athletes could train in one location. The organization responsible for maintaining the facilities from these Games is WinSport Canada.

Committing the legacy of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games WinSport Canada has evolved into one premier sport-development organizations in the world. Consider that of the 156 Canadian athletes who competed at the 2002 Winter Games, 85 of them were from Alberta. At the 2006 Torino Games, 66% of Canada's medalists were Alberta based. And the facilities these athletes trained on were managed by WinSport Canada.

However, with the global economic downturn and a legacy fund tied to equity markets, WinSport Canada has lost 20% of its total value since 2007 and is now struggling to find the funds to pay for the day to day operations of the Olympic Oval and Canada Olympic Park. The net effect is that WinSport is trimming its budgets at its facilities. While the effect of these cuts will unlikely be seen in Vancouver it is possible that with in 2014 and beyond - the Calgary legacy and the subsequent success of Alberta based athletes may be coming to an end.

The Four Year Gap

2009-04-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Canadian flag raised at a major international sporting event in your honor? Most Candians have. In fact the dream is played out on a daily basis in backyards, arenas, playgrounds, and gymnasiums from coast to coast across Canada where young and old alike envision scoring that last minute goal, skating the perfect program, breaking the world record, and in the process standing atop the podium as an adoring country watches their every move. For many it is just that. A dream. But, for a fortunate few it is a lifestyle where an elite few with little regard for fame or money carry out their dream on a daily basis in virtual obscurity to the mainstream public.

It isn't until that five ring spectacle known as the Olympic Games approaches does the Canadian public begin to take notice of this dedicated group. And then lawyers, doctors, bankers, teachers, journalists and every one else in between become instantaneous experts on the successes and failures of Canada's amateur sport athletes and teams. Then once the cauldron has been extinguished, the chairs have been put away, and the two-week sporting spectacle comes to a conclusion the analysis concludes, the water cooler arguments are put on the shelf and Canada's amateur athletes return to their modest lifetstyle.

This blog attempts to go beyond the rings by examining the issues that Canada's amateur athletes face as they pursue that childhood dream that lives within all of us. Step inside Canada's amateur sport system and discover for yourself what traspires between the extinguishing of one cauldron and the lighting of another.