Pound says Canadian athletes need more money
Andrew Davidson, CTV.ca News Staff
Canada has to start showing its athletes the money -- if it wants more winners on the world stage, says a former president of the Canadian Olympic Association.
Dick Pound, who is now head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, says more money upfront could lead to more medals down the line at high-profile competitions like the Olympics.
"It's not necessary to spend a lot more," Pound told the French-language service of The Canadian Press over the weekend.
Right now, Ottawa supports our athletes with an annual budget of about $16 million.
Pound says a goal to triple that contribution could make a huge difference.
"Maybe, with $50 million from the (federal and provincial) governments, we could improve our performance," he said.
But while officials like Pound use diplomatic language to call for better funding, others are much more blunt.
"The funding for achieving athletes is a joke. What a travesty!," IOC member Paul Henderson said recently.
His comments came in a blistering letter to Chris Rudge, the chief executive director of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Henderson's letter was reported in the Globe and Mail.
Athletes, too, admit that a huge burden falls on their families and loved ones.
"The Bank of Mom and Dad is our biggest supporter," three-time rowing gold medallist Marnie McBean said in an interview with CTV.ca.
"Athletes have the ability to get good, but the ability to get great needs a lot of funding," she said.
And, she added, athletes are hardly living the high life.
"What our athletes need to get, they get. Barely. But, our athletes tend to miss out on the nice-to-haves."
At issue is the high costs for three things: training, elite coaches, and travelling to international competitions.
Many, like the Canadian sports lobby group Sport Matters, say we should take our cue from Australia.
Despite having 20 million people -- about two thirds of the Canadian population -- Australia pours $98 million into support for its athletes.
That's about six times more than Canada. And many say the record speaks for itself.
At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia placed third overall with 59 medals. That compares to Canada's 17th place showing and 14 medals.
Four years earlier at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Australia ended up with 41 medals and was fifth overall. Canada was 11th with 22 medals.
And, 12 years ago at the '92 Barcelona Olympics, Australia again placed ahead of Canada. It came in ninth overall with 27 medals versus Canada's 15th-place showing, with 18 medals.
But, there is one big difference. And, some say, it is a crucial one.
Unlike Canada, Australia supports very few winter athletes which means the majority train for the summer Games.
"Australia has a different tradition," Pound said.
However, Pound said he has hope Canada will do well at the Athens Games.
"It's difficult to make predictions, but we have to have expectations higher than average," he said.
"The objective is to get to 12th place rather than 16th."
How much is enough?
All this begs the question: How much is enough?
Sport Canada, a government agency of the ministry of Canadian Heritage that oversees all Olympic and amateur sport funding, has an annual budget of $90 million to fund all levels of amateur sport teams, facilities, events, equipment and coaches.
Some within Sport Canada say the athletes are getting enough.
"We've increased funding every year," Sport Canada's Westerberg told CTV.ca. "Athletes are always wanting more."
"If you look at third-world countries, they don't give their athletes anything," he added.
Yet others disagree.
"It's so unfair," said Mark Lowry, executive director of Sport for the Canadian Olympic Committee.
"We're one of the most under-funded countries in the world, compared to the countries we're competing against on a per capita basis.
"Our athletes are as good as any in the world, but our resources to get them to that level, compared to what we're up against, is extremely limited," he told CTV.ca.
Sport Canada was expected to unveil its promised $20 million of increased funds to develop elite sports in Canada, on Friday, Aug. 6, but cancelled its press conference for undisclosed reasons.
Westerberg says Sport Canada will make an announcement on the funding increase during the Games.
The association says it needs at least $50 million immediately, according to the Globe. And, they also want their annual budget to increase to $180 million a year.
With the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler games looming, Sport Matters says the money is needed to avoid a three-peat: three Olympic Games on Canadian soil without a single Canadian gold medal being won.
Andrew Davidson, CTV.ca News Staff
Canada has to start showing its athletes the money -- if it wants more winners on the world stage, says a former president of the Canadian Olympic Association.
Dick Pound, who is now head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, says more money upfront could lead to more medals down the line at high-profile competitions like the Olympics.
"It's not necessary to spend a lot more," Pound told the French-language service of The Canadian Press over the weekend.
Right now, Ottawa supports our athletes with an annual budget of about $16 million.
Pound says a goal to triple that contribution could make a huge difference.
"Maybe, with $50 million from the (federal and provincial) governments, we could improve our performance," he said.
But while officials like Pound use diplomatic language to call for better funding, others are much more blunt.
"The funding for achieving athletes is a joke. What a travesty!," IOC member Paul Henderson said recently.
His comments came in a blistering letter to Chris Rudge, the chief executive director of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Henderson's letter was reported in the Globe and Mail.
Athletes, too, admit that a huge burden falls on their families and loved ones.
"The Bank of Mom and Dad is our biggest supporter," three-time rowing gold medallist Marnie McBean said in an interview with CTV.ca.
"Athletes have the ability to get good, but the ability to get great needs a lot of funding," she said.
And, she added, athletes are hardly living the high life.
"What our athletes need to get, they get. Barely. But, our athletes tend to miss out on the nice-to-haves."
At issue is the high costs for three things: training, elite coaches, and travelling to international competitions.
Many, like the Canadian sports lobby group Sport Matters, say we should take our cue from Australia.
Despite having 20 million people -- about two thirds of the Canadian population -- Australia pours $98 million into support for its athletes.
That's about six times more than Canada. And many say the record speaks for itself.
At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia placed third overall with 59 medals. That compares to Canada's 17th place showing and 14 medals.
Four years earlier at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Australia ended up with 41 medals and was fifth overall. Canada was 11th with 22 medals.
And, 12 years ago at the '92 Barcelona Olympics, Australia again placed ahead of Canada. It came in ninth overall with 27 medals versus Canada's 15th-place showing, with 18 medals.
But, there is one big difference. And, some say, it is a crucial one.
Unlike Canada, Australia supports very few winter athletes which means the majority train for the summer Games.
"Australia has a different tradition," Pound said.
However, Pound said he has hope Canada will do well at the Athens Games.
"It's difficult to make predictions, but we have to have expectations higher than average," he said.
"The objective is to get to 12th place rather than 16th."
How much is enough?
All this begs the question: How much is enough?
Sport Canada, a government agency of the ministry of Canadian Heritage that oversees all Olympic and amateur sport funding, has an annual budget of $90 million to fund all levels of amateur sport teams, facilities, events, equipment and coaches.
Some within Sport Canada say the athletes are getting enough.
"We've increased funding every year," Sport Canada's Westerberg told CTV.ca. "Athletes are always wanting more."
"If you look at third-world countries, they don't give their athletes anything," he added.
Yet others disagree.
"It's so unfair," said Mark Lowry, executive director of Sport for the Canadian Olympic Committee.
"We're one of the most under-funded countries in the world, compared to the countries we're competing against on a per capita basis.
"Our athletes are as good as any in the world, but our resources to get them to that level, compared to what we're up against, is extremely limited," he told CTV.ca.
Sport Canada was expected to unveil its promised $20 million of increased funds to develop elite sports in Canada, on Friday, Aug. 6, but cancelled its press conference for undisclosed reasons.
Westerberg says Sport Canada will make an announcement on the funding increase during the Games.
The association says it needs at least $50 million immediately, according to the Globe. And, they also want their annual budget to increase to $180 million a year.
With the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler games looming, Sport Matters says the money is needed to avoid a three-peat: three Olympic Games on Canadian soil without a single Canadian gold medal being won.
