Canadian Swimming has been focusing a lot on developing from the ground up in the last few seasons, and it seems the funding to do just that will continue as the Canadian Government will fund high-performance sport in hopes of developing the next generation of successful athletes.
This announcement comes just after Canada released it’s roster for the 2015 World Championships, Pan Am Games, and FISU Games at the 2015 Canadian Swimming Trials.
With one of the youngest international squads in the sport, it seems fitting that the focus will be the youth. There are tons of up-and-coming athletes such as Penny Oleksiak from Toronto Swim Club, Javier Acevedo from Ajax Swimming, Taylor Ruck from Scottsdale, and many more that seem just a few years shy from the potential of being on Canada’s international team.
Swimmers such as the ones mentioned above as well as coaches, could benefit greatly from the funding.
Below is the press release courtesy of Swimming Canada
OTTAWA – Swimming Canada applauds the Government of Canada for its announcement of continued investment in high-performance sport through the federal budget.
The Government of Canada expressed its continued commitment to driving podium performances, and ultimately, a healthier country, well into the future by announcing increased support for the development of Canada’s next generation of Olympic and Paralympic medallists. Beginning in 2016-17, the Government of Canada will match up to $20 million over four years of private sector investment to support the next generation of athletes who are five-to-eight years away from potentially medalling at an Olympic or Paralympic Games. The funding will be used to support additional coaches, improve the daily training environment while delivering sport medicine and sport science services to those podium potential athletes.
“We face challenges on a daily basis in developing these inspired young Canadians into the next generation of great podium potential athletes. In order to ensure we can provide quality coaching, an optimal daily training environment, and quality sport science and medicine services to this next wave of athletes additional funds are required,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi.
“This additional investment in Canada’s ‘NextGen’ strategy will strengthen the athlete development pathway and improve the quantity and quality of athletes that are five to eight years away from the podium. Additional funding will also strengthen the link between national and provincial partners and accelerate the development of high performance athletes and coaches.”