Alex Baumann and the Canadian Olympic Committee kissed up to the feds on Valentine Day, urging government to follow through on the recommendation from the standing committee on finance to help summer sports to the tune of $30-million a year for five years.
But they're keeping their fingers crossed, hoping sport doesn't get the kiss-off in the federal budget on Feb. 26.
“Until we see it, we won't be certain, but all the signs are positive,” said Baumann, the executive director of Road to Excellence and a double Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
Road to Excellence is a summer sport initiative designed to get Canada's summer athletes on Olympic podiums. It is parallel to the successful Own the Podium winter program.
The goal of RTE is for Canada to place 16th in the overall medal count in Beijing in the summer, 12th at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and in the top five for the Paralympic Games in 2008 and 2012.
Baumann was lured back to Canada from Australia by the COC in 2006 to run the program. But to this point, dollars have been scarce. Budgets have come and gone, sometimes without even a mention of sport. He admitted to frustration in having uprooted his family and seeing no progress.
“We left no stone unturned to sell RTE and benefits associated with having role models who will inspire Canadians to take on a healthier, active lifestyle,” he said. “In the meetings I had, there weren't any negative comments.”
Still, athletes can't trust in government action until the cheque clears, says Paul Henderson, the former member of the International Olympic Committee, who has been beating the drum for athlete funding.
If the money does come through, it can't help the summer athletes bound for Beijing in August. And Henderson is cynical, thinking the largesse promised to athletes before an election could vanish in the budget of the next government.
“It may be smoke and mirrors,” Henderson said by e-mail. “It is only a budget item. If there is an election called, then the budget is void. If not, then it must go to the House to be passed, which takes us into April. It then takes almost a year for the treasury to free up the dollars.”
Baumann said planning of programs has to take place nonetheless. The RTE funds would flow through Sport Canada and the key areas for spending the resources would be coaching, sport services, management and training.
“We shouldn't be shy about going outside to get the best [coaches],” he said.
But the money is not for the purpose of reinventing the broad-based egalitarian system that has been producing competitive athletes, but not many winners.
“It will still be a very targeted approach,” Baumann said. “We don't do everything with everyone. RTE will focus on those who can get us medals in 2012.”
Lobbyists meeting the Ottawa politicians with Baumann were members of the COC, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Sport Matters Group, National Sport Federations and athletes.
Sylvie Bernier, the Beijing chef de mission, who won a gold medal in diving at the Olympic Games in 1984, said the impact of the program for Beijing would be limited.
“We wish we had the money one year ago, but we're still working for 2012 and beyond,” she said.
“It was not a cynical feeling that I got this morning. I think they really want the sport community to get this money. Everybody I met was knowledgeable of what the needs are and what we're asking for.”
