EMAIL
| PRINT
| REPORT TYPO
| SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
|
Funding of athletes
- August 14, 2008 3:44 PM |
- By Your Voice
Canada has sent 332 athletes to the Olympic Games in Beijing with the goal of finishing in the top 16 teams. That kind of success requires intense training, dedication and funding.
How does Canada fund its athletes? How are they paid? How much money do they live on? Do they have to hold other jobs?
Officials from the Canadian Olympic Committee answered your questions on the funding of athletes.
Categories
All News blogs
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Your Interview
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Recent Entries
- Staying healthy: How to monitor and reduce your risk of disease
- For decades, the most popular tool for assessing a person's risk for obesity-related problems like diabetes and heart disease was the body mass index, or BMI. But some experts think physicians should focus on their patients' waist measurements, and a... Continue reading this post
- Privacy online: How to stay secure in the age of social media
- Following another round of criticism over its privacy settings, Facebook is tinkering with its policies once again. But many users are starting to ask whether it's too little, too late. The site has struggled with negative user feedback, while continuing... Continue reading this post
- Your Interview: How to talk to your kids about sex
- By Renee RamsarranSex education is an ongoing process that usually starts at home. Children learn about sex and sexuality through their parents, yet families often hesitate to talk about certain issues with their kids. How can you take an active... Continue reading this post
Comments (21)
Of the 140 million dollars budgeted for the Olympic Programs 27 million goes to the athletes...where does the other 113 million dollars get spent???
COC: Sport Canada actually provides a total of $166 million for sport programming all across Canada. This funding covers all sport programs ‘from playground to podium’. This includes, but is not limited to, high performance sport programming funding in Canada (hosting of major sporting events, for example). In 2008, the federal budget added to the original funding with an investment of $24 million over 2 years, and $24 million/year after that in perpetuity for the new Road to Excellence program – a collaborative effort designed to give targeted summer sports and athletes the required support they need to prepare for future Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Just over $100 million of the total funding goes to support high performance sport through programs such as the Athlete Assistance Program (direct funding to athletes), the Own the Podium and Road to Excellence Programs, core funding for National Sport Federations to cover coaching salaries and programming, sport centres across Canada, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and individual sport events across the country.
Of note, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) funding is derived from sponsors and from the invested profits from hosting the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games. As a not-for-profit, private sport organization, less than 3% of the COC’s funding comes from government. This support is predominantly for athlete and medical missions to Olympic and Pan American Games and official languages support.
Every Canadian is watching the Olympic coverage right now. Why is the COC not running advertisements telling Canadians who want to financially support their athletes to go online and make donations to programs like Own the Podium and the Road to Excellence? People would donate online if they KNEW they could. Instead of all the advertisements from businesses telling us how much they donate, the COC should be informing Canadians how they can do this. What a poor play on the part of the COC. Canadians are excited now about the games -- they won't be at Christmas time or in two years time.
COC: Thanks for your great question Paul. You may have seen France Chretien-Desmarais and Jim Balsillie being interviewed by Diana Swain on CBC last week. The Canadian Olympic Committee is in the process of launching the Canadian Olympic Foundation, which will provide an avenue for Canadians, and Canadian businesses, to provide support to our Olympic athletes. As we wrote in response to the first question above, less than 3% of the COC funding comes from governments.
We hope that Canadians will turn their excitement and the sense of national pride felt when our athletes excel into motivation to support the athletes financially. Just think what would happen if every Canadian would give the Canadian Olympic Foundation just $1 annually – we would have over $30 million dollars per year to support our athletes as they represent all of us at the Olympic and Pan American Games!
Canadians who wish to contribute immediately can log onto www.olympic.ca and click on the Donations tab at the top of the page.
Winter athletes tend to get a lot of backing from private groups such as CODA (whom also built the Calgary Gymnastics Centre at Canada Olympic Park), while it seems summer athletes are largely left to fend for themselves. Is anything done to try and lessen the disparity in funding between the two?
COC: With the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the country turned its eye early to doing what we need to do to Own the Podium at home by winning the most medals of all nations at the Games. Launched in January 2005, Own the Podium 2010 is a national sport technical initiative designed to help Canada’s winter athletes win the most number of medals at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and to place in the top three nations (gold medal count) at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
More recently, however, the COC led advocacy efforts aimed at securing federal government investment in the Road to Excellence initiative – a summer sport equivalent of the Own the Podium sport initiative. The Road to Excellence program received the support of the federal government with the announcement in the February 2008 budget that it would invest $24 million over two years and $24 million each subsequent year in the Road to Excellence program. We expect to feel the impact of this significant investment at the London 2012 Olympic Games and future summer Olympic Games.
The issue about national athlete funding isn't new, this comes about every olympics.
What's the average stipend for the Cdn athlete? What is it for an American? Chinese? Russian? Is it like for every $1 our Cdn athlete gets, his/her counterpart gets $40?
COC: The government of Canada provides $27 million annually directly to athletes through the Athlete Assistance Program. The Athlete Assistance Program (colloquially referred to as ‘carding’) assists Canadian high performance athletes with training and competition needs through the provision of tax-free financial support as well as tuition benefits.
There are two levels of assistance within the program: “Senior” level athletes who receive $1,500 in monthly living and training allowances ($18,000 annually) and “Development” level athletes receive $900 per month ($10,800 annually). There are tuition benefits for scholar athletes on top of the annual living and training allowances.
In addition, many athletes receive funding from their provincial governments and over 300 athletes receive financial support from the COC sponsor programs such as Hbc’s Run for Canada program, RONA’s Growing with our Athletes program, and Petro Canada’s Fueling Athlete and Coach Excellence (FACE) program. Other programs run directly by COC sponsors also provide funding to athletes. Examples of these programs are the RBC Olympians program, the Team VISA program, etc.
Do you really think the Olympic Commitees of North Korea, Kyrgyzstan or the Republik of Togo - way ahead of Canada after day 9 - may train their athletes more intense and / or pay them in a better way?
Did their athletes maybe win their medals due to dedicating more time, energy and will?
COC: What a difference a day makes at the Olympic Games!! By the time your question reached the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian athletes had delivered five medals and as we post this answer, Canada sits in 13th place overall with 15 medals.
The COC and sport partners have worked together to develop demanding, but achievable, goals for Canada’s performance at Olympic Games. Specifically, the goal is for the Canadian Olympic Team to place in the top 16 nations in terms of medals won at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. We had some disappointing results in the first half of the Games, but traditionally, the Canadian team strengths come in the second week of competition. We’ve seen some of those strengths in the recent medal performances and several more medal hopefuls competitions have just begun.
All of our athletes in Beijing are focused and determined to put their best foot forward for Canada. We know for certain that if Olympic medals were awarded to athletes based on time, energy and will, Canadian athletes would stand on the gold medal platform each time.
Why are we sending huge contingents of athletes to finish expectedly low? I would support more funding and paying these athletes if it didn't mean some person with absolutely no chance finishing an event in 7 minutes, ending up 54th in a field of 60, and then enjoying a 2 week vacation on us in China.
Why not send only 50 people who are in the top ten of the world in their sport and bring back 20 metals?
The money you save can be used to get some sport psychologists to reverse the "it's ok just do your best!" idea they all have - which is what every 7 year old should think about sport, but not an Olympian.
COC: Canada has accepted the standards for qualification set for by each individual International Sport Federation (such as FINA, the governing body for Aquatic sports or FISA, the governing body for Rowing). These standards are set by the International Sport Federations to ensure that the quality of competition is as strong as possible, while also recognizing the need to have geographic representation across all continents.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has worked closely with its sport partners to build the new Road to Excellence sport initiative – a collaborative effort designed to give targeted athletes the required support they need to prepare for future Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is also important to note that a strong Olympic Movement in Canada has been shown to increase national pride and create a new generation of sport role models. Community enrolment in sport increases significantly following a Canadian Olympic medal win and indications are that Canada’s Olympic athletes and their performances at the Games contribute to a healthier, more active society through this increased participation.
The Royal Canadian Mint produces and aggressively markets a series of collectible Olympic coins that range in price from a few dollars up to several hundred for full sets and premium materials. While the advertising strongly implies that the purchase of these keepsakes supports Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, a call to the Canadian Mint(eventually) confirmed that none of the proceeds actually go toward supporting our athletes, although there is a donation box on the counter for those who wish to contribute. What, if anything, can be done to protect supporters of our Olympic athletes from this type of deception?
COC: The Royal Canadian Mint has entered into an agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) to produce commemorative coins for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. These coins are meant as collector items and are not related to athlete program-directed donations.
The proceeds from the sales of these coins, however, help VANOC build Olympic Games venues and deliver these Games to the athletes of the world in 2010. While athletes do not receive funds directly from the Royal Canadian Mint program, they do receive significant benefits from having the Olympic Winter Games in Canada. Athletes will also receive significant legacy benefits post 2010 by having world class venues to train and compete on as they prepare for future Olympic Winter Games.
Why are professional athletes permitted to participate in the games. I thought the games were for ametuers. Years ago only non-professionals participated. When did it change and why did it change. If you look at it, whether it be hockey, tennis, basketball, they are all pros. Why?
COC: Over time, it has become clear that rules that limited Olympic competition to amateur athletes had become outdated. Countries classified (and funded) athletes differently around the world and the Olympic Games, which were meant to be a competition amongst the best in the world, were missing notable competitors. In the 1970s, amateurism requirements were dropped from the Olympic Charter, and decision-making about participation by professional athletes was transferred to individual International Sport Federations.
Currently, the only sports in which no professionals compete is Boxing (though some boxers do receive cash prizes from their National Olympic Committees.) Men’s Football (Soccer) has another rule that states that the number of players over 23 years of age must be limited to three per team
Australia with a population of 20.7 million (UN 2007) versus Canada's 32.9 (UN 2007),they are among the best performers in the world. If they can do it, why not us?
COC: Australia has already gone through what Canada is now going through! After the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, Australia took a long, hard look at their sports system. Only 5 medals in Montreal suggested the Australian system needed help, and quickly!
The Australian government created the Australian Institute of Sport, and infused large amounts of cash into the sports system. Predictably, the Australian results improved over the years. From the 5 medals in Montreal the Aussie totals grew as follows – 9 at Moscow 1980; 24 at Los Angeles 1984; 14 at Seoul 1988; 27 at Barcelona 1992, 41 at Atlanta 1996, 58 at Sydney 2000 and 49 at Athens 2004.
It is clear that providing money for targetted facilities, coaching, sport science, sport medicine, travel and competition have propelled Australia forward in the medal count!
It is this, and other countries’ examples that we looked to when the Canadian Olympic Committee worked with its sport partners to build the new Road to Excellence sport initiative – a collaborative effort designed to give targeted athletes the required support they need to prepare for future Olympic and Paralympic Games. The first of this funding from the Government of Canada was announced in the Federal Budget in February 2008 and we expect to see the fruits of this investment by the London 2012 Olympic Games.
140 Million for 332 athletes? Is that per year or for the period before each game?
That is 421,686.75 per athlete, so why are there not better results, as that is a huge chunk of money,..twice as much as I make if it is for the 5 years inbetween each game? Having that much money spent should result in medals equal to countries like the US Germany China etc.
What the heck is going on ?
COC: Please see responses to questions 1 and 4 above.
How can Canadians do more to support our athletes?
COC: Thank you for asking!!! Canadians can support Olympic athletes by making a donation directly to the Canadian Olympic Committee at www.olympic.ca and click on Donations.
The question is not so much of funding the athletes, but rather funding the right kind of training environment with the right kind of trainers and the right kind of Canadian athletes who are "hungry" to succeed at the games and be awarded a medal for their effort.
332 athletes is in my opinion, way too many. Like an earlier post, Canadian athletes finish 54th in a field of 60 and enjoy a vacation in China on our tab.
I'd prefer to see only 30-50 athletes, who have achieved a rank in the top 10-20 on the planet. The other 250+ athletes must simply train harder, and have a greater burning desire to perform....
Where are we in the standings? Dead last, or close to it. Embarrassing!
COC: Please see response to question 5 above.
Question 1: With all the pain and suffering on the planet right now why should any Canadian give money to watch Billy jump higher than Sven?
Question 2: Why should anyone care about this at all?
COC: The COC believes strongly in the pursuit of being the best you can be. We believe that in life we want to be the best husband or wife we can be, the best parents we can be, etc. We want the best schools and hospitals for our children and family members. It is a noble goal to aspire to be the best you can be, whatever field you are in. This is no different for sport. Our core values are Excellence, Integrity and Passion – values we believe are transferable to all aspects of life!
I feel that athletes are given the run around when it comes to funding. They have to hold a job and train full time in order to concidered of international calibre. I would love to see a program where the athlete actually gets a break (tax, travel expenses, training location/rentals, etc).
Would be nice to know the money we give to athletes ACTUALLY goes to them and not the federations, OOC, COC or other pocket dipping organisations. How can this be done?
COC: Please see our response to question 4 above regarding the ‘Athlete Assistance Program” direct funding for athletes. This funding is provided to an athlete tax free in Canada.
We too believe that it is important that money be provided directly to athletes. However, we also believe that more money needs to go into providing support for their training, coaching, travel and competition needs. Imagine, if you will, that you want to become a lawyer. I give you $100,000 and ask you to be a lawyer – but I don’t give you any law school, professors, books, or practical experience. How good a lawyer would you become? In essence the sport system is the same. Without facilities, coaching, sport science, sport medicine, travel and competition you cannot become an Olympic class athlete.
Is success at the games more important than competing? It seems that medals for athletes are equivalent to profits for big business.
When do we start to recognize that competition on the world stage is just as important as winning medals?
COC: Many young children dream of competing at the Olympic Games and of standing on the podium and hearing the Canadian national anthem played. Our purpose is to support our athletes and to remove as many obstacles as possible, including financial ones, as they strive to achieve their dreams, and to inspire a nation in the process.
At the highest point in my amateur athletics career, being carded (funded by the federal government) and competing in Japan, I had to make the choice between staying in the sport and giving it up to pursue full-time post secondary education. My D(development)-card at the time, in 2003, included $500 per month and covered University Tuition.
How would you have expected an athlete like myself to provide food, shelter, books, training and transportation with $500 per month? A part-time job on top of elite level training and mechanical engineering courses?
I choose to pursue post secondary but I do miss my sport, training, and competition.
COC: The Canadian Olympic Committee does not provide the ‘carding’ or tuition support to athletes. This is the domain of the federal government of Canada (though some provinces also provide carding to athletes).
As a leader in the Canadian sport system, the COC continually advocates for additional investment in the sport system, including financial assistance to our athletes. We are thrilled that the federal government announced in their 2008 Budget this spring that $24 million over the next two years, and $24 million per year thereafter, will be contributed to the summer Road to Excellence plan.
We are sending as many athletes to the Olympics as we are because we have that many of them who are good enough to qualify, and we should be grateful for that. Some people here seem to forget that you don’t just get to go to the games simply because you want to; you have to spend years training and competing to meet the international standards to qualify. Merely making it to the games is a feat in itself.
The Olympics already has quotas set for each country and continent. If everybody has the mentality that only the top 10 athletes in the world should get a chance to compete, there would only be 10 athletes in every event already. Should our athletes just pass up the Olympics if they don’t have a shot at the medals? If so, then why don’t we just award the medals to the top 3 ranked athletes in the world already and forget about the games? And to keep things in perspective, the athlete who finished 54th didn’t finish out of 60, he/she finished out of 3.3 billion.
COC: Hear hear Sarah! Thank you for your strong and steadfast support of Canadian athletes.
Just one small correction to your note. The International Olympic Committee does not set the qualification criteria for the Olympic Games. This is the domain of each International Sport Federation.
In an interview I heard on CBC radio today with the pitcher for the Korean Baseball team he explained that he is elated that his team has made it to the next round because a medal means that he does not have to serve a mandatory 2 years in the Korean army. His excitement about possibly not having to serve that term actually brought a tear to my eye. Now that is incentive. No wonder they are ranked 4th in the over all medal standings. In fact I think I'm going to start rooting for them.
I have two questions. What incentive to Canadian Athletes have to place in the top three at the Olympics? How much total government support money does our highest and lowest paid athlete receive annually?
COC: Please see response to question 4 above.
I wonder what the real purpose of the Olypmpics is? I like to see our Olympians do well but is it really that important?
That TV ad with the "go and amaze us!" crap, that pretty much sums it up. We are looking for far too much from the Olympics.
COC: According to the Olympic Charter, established by Pierre de Coubertin, the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
In addition, and as we wrote in response to a question above, a strong Olympic Movement in Canada has been shown to increase national pride and create a new generation of sport role models. Community enrolment in sport increases significantly following a Canadian Olympic medal win and that Canada’s Olympic athletes and their performances at the Games contribute to a healthier, more active society.
What sports are important to Canada to represent in the Summer Olympics?
COC: It would be very hard to tell any athlete participating in any sport that their sport is not important. The Canadian Olympic Committee, as a participant in the Road to Excellence program, believes in targeted investments in sport that will maximize the chances to garner medals. The investment decisions are made by the Road to Excellence management, led by Canadian Olympic gold medallist Alex Baumann.
I would first like to know if the figures quoted by Christine McGill in this forum are correct and if they are, how do those who are eating up the 113 million sleep at night. This is like the non-profit organizations who only apply 5% of the money they collect towards the cause they are collecting for.
This is the same scenario; Is 81% of money earmarked for the olympics supporting over priced administration and advertising? Does any of this money pay for trainers, travel, equipment, gym or arena rental?
COC: Please see response to question 1 for a full reply to this question.
In addition, we invite you to review the Canadian Olympic Committee’s annual report in which we outline the revenues and expenditures of the COC. You can see there that the COC directs 67% of all revenues to Olympic preparation and Team Operations. You can view the COC’s annual report at:
http://www.olympic.ca/EN/organization/publications/reports/coc_ar_EN8.pdf