Helping our athletes achieve their best

For two weeks in February, and another ten days in March, people around the world will have their eyes focused on the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For the people of the more than 80 countries represented at the Games, the focus will be just a bit sharper, as they hope for that special feeling of pride that comes with seeing one of their fellow citizens mount the medal podium.

For Canadians, as Olympic and Paralympic hosts, that hope is especially keen - and if recent performances in World Cup and World Championship events are any indication, Canadians look forward to medal finishers.

Recognizing the national pride and prestige that comes with a top-level performance on an international stage - not to mention the potential to inspire citizens to adopt a more active lifestyle - Canada is like many countries that have programs to support their high-performance athletes.

To be competitive internationally today takes a huge personal commitment to training and preparation. For many, if not most of the athletes who'll be competing at the Vancouver Games, sport is a full-time undertaking.

Many countries provide their top athletes with financial support, and Canada is one of them - but its approach is somewhat unique.

Financing is provided through the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP). The maximum available to offset living and training expenses is $1,500 a month, tax-free (about US $1,400). When combined with other sources of assistance, that amount can make a substantial difference for an athlete struggling to combine their sport and academic or working careers while training intensively in pursuit of world-class performances.

Where the Canadian program differs from many others is in helping athletes deal with other things that may distract them from their sport. In many ways, Canada's AAP is designed to help take the worry out of being an athlete, so they can concentrate on performance.

The AAP also helps athletes with the tuition cost of their post-secondary education and, if they want to devote themselves full-time to their sport, they can defer this benefit until after they've retired from competition. Through special needs support, there is also help to cover child-care costs, and help for an athlete's relocation costs if they have to move to another part of the country to train at a sport-specific National Training Centre.

The AAP also makes allowance for athletes who may suffer an injury. Provided they meet certain conditions, such as committing to pursue all the necessary rehabilitation in order to return to competition, athletes who are unable to maintain full training and competition commitments because of injury or illness continue to receive full support. The AAP also allows athletes who become pregnant to receive ongoing support, as long as they signify their intent to return to full-time training at the earliest possible date.

And, when it comes time to retire from competition, Canada's top athletes can also receive a modest financial award to assist in the transition while they begin the next stage of their life.

Government of Canada funding for the AAP is delivered through Sport Canada - part of Canada's Department of Canadian Heritage - which supports athletes with the ability or potential to compete with the best in the world, based on recommendations from Canada's National Sport Organizations. In 2009-10, close to $27M was disbursed to deserving athletes.

Currently, close to 1,800 athletes in more than 80 different sports are registered with Canada's Athlete Assistance program. Many of them will be competing at the Vancouver Games, and all indications are that more than a few of them will end up on the podium - and if that happens, don't be surprised to see other countries taking a closer look at how Canada does it.