As Canadian high-performance athletes return to training, the way will be paved in part by a $5-million investment from the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Own the Podium.
The three organizations made the funding announcement Monday morning in a news release.
“The investment, made possible by the support of respective stakeholders, will be directed to areas where there is the greatest need as identified by the Return to Sport Task Force,” the release stated. “The priority is to optimize safe and healthy environments for athletes to return to high-performance sport.”
The 27-member task force, chaired by OTP’s CEO Anne Merklinger, developed a national framework that focuses on the reintroduction of sport activity in a responsible manner; offering guidelines for athletes, coaches, administrators and facility operators.
“A return to high-performance sport does not happen overnight, nor is there a one-stop solution,” said David Shoemaker, CEO of the COC. “As Canada’s high-performance athletes and coaches will soon return to training in pursuit of their Olympic and Paralympic dreams, we want them to be able to do so in a manner that is safe for them, their families, and their communities.
“Our focus currently is on investing in measures that optimize a healthy and safe return to training.”
Karen O’Neill, CEO of the CPC, echoed those sentiments.
“The financial investment is a great first step forward in the recovery plan, and we will continue to work towards a return to sport based on expert recommendations, with a clear priority of ensuring our athletes, coaches, and support teams are in a safe and healthy environment for themselves and their families.”
