‘At the brink of falling apart’: Sport organizations hope new government heeds urgent call for funding

As the dust settled on a successful Summer Olympics in Paris last year, David Shoemaker left Canadians with a stark warning. Despite bringing home 27 medals from France, Shoemaker, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, expressed his concern that Canada’s athletes may not be reaching their full potential due to a lack of resources from the federal government.

Shoemaker highlighted the fact that there had been no increase in core funding for the 62 federally-funded national sports organizations in 19 years. This lack of financial support was putting immense pressure on these organizations to deliver high-performance results while also creating a safe and inclusive sports system.

Fast forward to the present, and Canada has a new government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Adam van Koeverden, a retired kayaker and four-time Olympic medallist, has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Sport in Carney’s cabinet. Van Koeverden, who had given his recommendations to the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, is now tasked with addressing the funding demands of sport organizations and navigating the country’s safe-sport crisis.

There is a pressing need for a $144 million increase in funding to compensate for the two decades of stagnation in core funding. The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee emphasized the importance of sport in uniting Canadians and bridging divides in a joint statement following the new government’s appointment.

One area where funding is crucial is women’s rugby, particularly as the Canadian team gears up for the World Cup in England. Rugby Canada’s CEO, Nathan Bombrys, stressed the importance of financial support for the team to compete at the highest level. Despite fundraising efforts, the team faces budget constraints that could impact their performance on the global stage.

For Olympic athletes like Philippe Marquis, who chairs the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, funding remains the top concern. Marquis highlighted the precarious position of both sport organizations and athletes due to financial strains. The recent increase in living and training allowances under the Athlete Assistance Program was a step in the right direction, but more support is needed to ensure athletes can continue pursuing their dreams.

As van Koeverden steps into his new role, there is optimism that the government will prioritize sport and physical activity. Advocating for increased core funding for national sport organizations and indexing carding funding with inflation are among his priorities. Van Koeverden stressed the importance of supporting grassroots sports to nurture future talent while also providing elite athletes with the resources they need to excel.

The path forward is clear – Canada’s athletes need adequate funding to reach their full potential and continue representing the country on the world stage. With van Koeverden at the helm, there is hope that the government will recognize the value of sport in uniting Canadians and building a stronger, more inclusive nation. Time will tell if the calls for increased funding will be heeded and if Canada’s athletes will receive the support they need to thrive.