Randy Starkman
February 02, 2010
Roger Jackson, who heads Own The Podium, the organization designed to help Canada win the medals race at the 2010 Winter Olympics, is holding a teleconference today to talk about the team's prospects on the eve of the Vancouver Games.
But there's an even more important question at the moment: What happens after the show is over?
There is a lot of uncertainty and doubt in the Canadian sport system as it gets ready to enjoy what should be its greatest time on the international stage. The biggest worry is future funding.
The sports federations recently got a letter from Jackson recently saying basically they can only guarantee the winter sport system $10 million a year in funding going forward. The current level of funding is $29 million. Couple that with expected decreases in sponsorship and no more money from the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) in the future and you've got a bleak picture.
“We got $2 million from OTP,” said Max Gartner, chief of athletics for Alpine Canada. “Providing we have the results they expect, if the reduction is that severe, that's a lot of money out of our budget that's not going to be there.
“You add that with maybe some sponsors that are not going to be there after the Olympics, all of a sudden the future doesn't look so bright anymore and that's really scary. We knew it was going to go downhill after this year. But our budget is $6 million and if it goes down to $4 million, that means some significant changes.”
Jackson acknowledged his concern in an interview in December.
One of the big issues is that Sports Minister Gary Lunn has yet to release the findings of the 2010 and Beyond commission. That study is to determine the future of Own The Podium. Most people in Canadian sport want Own The Podium to remain an independent entity, while incoming Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut is pushing hard for it to come under their umbrella.
“We cannot go into the Games without knowing that there's a future for all the staff,” said Jackson. “That's a very, very serious problem and one that needs to be addressed. The minister will hopefully release the report very quickly.”
The report was expected to be released months ago and everyone is still waiting.
This isn't the sports system whinging. How can any business operate without knowing their budget, without knowing who's in charge?
Canada has to decide if it's in or out of the medal winning game. The Vancouver Olympics are going to give the public a real appetite for excelling on the world stage. That doesn't come cheaply.
And while it's expected this should be a great Games for Canada in the medal standings, the real rewards are likely to come in 2014 in Sochi and beyond – if we maintain a strong sports system.
It's estimated that $1 from taxpayers goes towards sport. That's a pretty good investment to these eyes, particularly if the system can continue to do a better job of linking the playground to the podium.
And by that I don't mean creating the next generation of Olympians, but motivating kids to be active and showing them the great role models that are out there in Canadian Olympic sport (They sure beat Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton as role models). That's a big part of this picture that needs to develop, showing the Canadian public the real worth of Olympic sport.
There's so much more that can be tapped into in this regard.
Minister Lunn, like has his ilk, has shown a propensity for the photo op. Here he is bussing Clara Hughes in front of the cameras when she was named flagbearer in Vancouver the other day. Hope he asked her about how her Olympic dream was sparked and what sport has done for her.
Maybe that will motivate him to stop dithering on this issue and not leave the future of sport twisting in the wind.
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