CALGARY - The Canadian freestyle skiing program is getting a significant bump in Own The Podium funding this winter, while money for skeleton has been slashed
almost to the bone.
Marvin
Williams Jersey .Own The Podium doles out federal government money based
on a sport federations ability to produce Olympic medallists.Freestyle skiers
led Canadas medal haul at this years Winter Olympics with seven, including three
gold.Out of OTPs budget of $21,605,000 for the 2014-15 winter season, freestyle
skiing will have $3.78 million at its disposal. Thats a significant raise on the
average of $2.58 million annually in the four years between the 2010 and 2014
Winter Olympics.Skeleton, by contrast, will receive just $20,000 this winter and
far less than the average of $876,250 in the previous quadrennial.OTP meets with
each sport federation to identify athletes with medal potential and come up with
a training and competition plan to get them on the podium. Chief executive
officer Anne Merklinger emphasizes the financial allotments for 2014-15 were not
rewards for results in Sochi in February.Where the money went reflected a sports
ability to not only win medals in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018, but also in
2022, she said.It is very much about investing in future podium potential
athletes and teams, Merklinger said in an interview. Sure, the past result is
important because it indicates an organization has been successful in getting
athletes on the podium, so its embedded in their culture. Thats important, but
at the same time, if theres no athletes in the pipeline particularly for zero to
four years out for the upcoming set of Games, then thats OTPs mandate, to help
Canadian athletes and coaches win more medals.No athletes, no money.OTP is the
organization established five years out from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to get
the home team on the podium.The majority of its money comes from taxpayers via
Sport Canada, although the Canadian Olympic Committee contributes to OTPs budget
from its own corporate sponsorship campaign.Canada topped the gold-medal count
in 2010 with 14, which is a Winter Games record, and ranked third in the overall
medal count with 26. In Sochi, Canada was third in the gold-medal count with 10
and fourth overall with 25.Canada achieved the goal of a top-three ranking in
gold medals won at both Paralympic Winter Games with 10 in 2010 and seven in
Sochi.But a troubling stat for Merklinger is the number of Canadians who
finished in the top eight at the Winter Games fell from 72 in 2010 to 57 in
Sochi. That decline is one indicator of a shrinking pool of athletes with medal
potential, which would impact Canadas performance at future Games.Canada needs
to widen and deepen that pool and not just for Pyeongchang, Merklinger
said.Going into Sochi, going into Vancouver, the lens from OTP was pretty
narrow, she explained. It was about podium performance in the upcoming set of
Games.We made a very deliberate decision to look at the top sports that have
multiple medal potential and invest a little bit deeper in the pathway, so
looking at athletes who are eight to five years away from a podium performance
in addition to those sports that have athletes who are four to zero years
away.So the Canadian Freestyle Association is using its increased funding to
hire staff and operate projects for athletes who are competing at a level
between the provincial and national teams.The most visible sign of the increased
money will be seen this winter at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.The CFSA has
hired the best half-pipe course designer in the world, according to chief
executive officer Bruce Robinson, to construct and maintain this years edition
of the half-pipe.In half-pipe skiing, the quality of the pipe is incredibly
important, Robinson said.It allows our team to have the best training possible
in their home country and not always having to go to the United States or
overseas. Thats a huge benefit for us.The CFSA also hired a staff to work with
developmental athletes across the four freestyle disciplines of moguls, aerials,
half-pipe and freestyle.A moguls program of 10 to 15 athletes who race on the
NorAm circuit, one level below the World Cup, was also established in Whistler,
B.C.Canada won gold and silver in Sochi in skicross, which falls under the
freestyle umbrella internationally. OTP funds it separately from freestyle,
however, as it is administered domestically by Alpine Canada.After skeleton made
its Olympic debut in 2002, Canadians won World Cups, world titles and Olympic
medals over the next decade. But Canada has been overtaken by Europeans and
Americans. OTP has determined there isnt another Duff Gibson or Jon Montgomery
on the near horizon.Our analysis was skeleton does not at this point does not
have medal potential for 2018, Merklinger said.The head of Bobsleigh Canada
Skeleton disagrees with that assessment.I believe and I think the organization
believes that OTP underestimated the talent we have and their prospects of
medalling in 2018 and 2022, Sarah Storey said. That being said, we need to
demonstrate that to a degree.Im confident well be able to show OTP these
athletes are worth OTP investing in because they do have the talent and the
potential and we do have a plan to get them there.Skeletons coaching staff has
been reduced to one, Ivo Pakalns, who oversees all athletes in the program.
Gibson, the 2006 Olympic gold medallist who coached the Canadian team in Sochi,
says he returned to his job as a firefighter for family, not funding, reasons.
BCS will provide financial support for Canadian skeleton athletes who qualify to
race World Cups this winter, Storey said.It is still our responsibility and
mandate to develop world-class athletes to get medals, she said.Its a major
setback, but were not going to let it affect these athletes and the next
athletes coming through. Its very important we restore funding next year and
were working on that.The majority of winter sports saw more modest gains or
drops in funding ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands.But
long-track speed skatings piece of the OTP pie shrunk to $1.35 million from an
average of $1.75 million in the previous quadrennial. The athletes are feeling
the pinch.Ottawas Ivanie Blondin says she and her teammates were told earlier
this month they must pay $1,500 in team fees out of their own pocket to race on
the national team this winter. I just finished paying off my tuition, Blondin
said.We kind of saw it coming, but moving forward I will have to look for
sponsorship somewhere for myself. I do have a spot available on my racing
skinsuit that I can fill, but its trying to find that one company or one
supporter that would will be willing to give me that per season is really hard
right now with the economy.After winning a combined 13 medals in 2006 and 2010,
the long-track team produced two in Sochi. The national team is smaller this
winter with just 11 skaters named to the senior team, but there are 20 on the
developmental squad.Long track was cut significantly from every year of the quad
previously, Merklinger acknowledged. We certainly cant abandon the podium
potential athletes that are there now and we need to work closely with long
track to strengthen the program.For Canada to continue to be a strong winter
sport nation, we need long track to get back to where they were.Ski jumping and
its cousin Nordic combined will receive no funding this winter. Ski jumpings OTP
funding in 2013-14 was just $54,000. Even with the introduction of womens ski
jumping to the Olympics, OTP determined Canada is not close to having a medal
threat.___WINNERS AND LOSERS: A QUICK LOOK AT SPORTS IMPACTED MOST BY NEW OTP
FUNDINGWINNERSFreestyle skiing, $3.78 million — Freestyle is one of the few
winter sports where Canada has the depth to get more than one athlete on the
podium in moguls, half-pipe and slopestyle. Moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury,
half-pipe skiers Mike Riddle, Noah Bowman and Matt Margetts and womens
slopestyle specialists Dara Howell, Kim Lamarre and Kaya Turski are among
them.Luge, $1.020 million — A trio of fourth-place finishes and two women in the
top five in Sochi indicates the lugers are on track to claim Canadas first
Olympic medal in the sport. Keep your eye on Kimberley McRae, who was fifth in
Sochi, en route to 2018.Figure Skating, $1.1 million — Canada must keep its
world-class talent across singles, pairs and ice dance to remain a medal threat
in the team event, as well as contend for individual medals. Nam Nguyen in mens
singles and the ice dance team of Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are the ones to
watch for the next four years.LOSERSSki jumping/Nordic combined, $0 — The
introduction of womens ski jumping in Sochi was four years too late for Canada,
whose best medal prospects were competing prior to 2010. There are just two ski
jump venues in the country and few people who participate, so the talent pool is
very shallow.Skeleton, $20,000 — It was a glorious decade of Canadian World Cup,
world and Olympic champions after the sport made its Olympic debut in 2002, but
OTP has determined no slider is currently tracking to get there again.Long-track
speedskating, $1.35 million — Looks like a lot of money, but down significantly
from previous years because of fewer potential medallists.---Follow Donna
Spencer on Twitter at @DLSpencer10
Spencer
Hawes Jersey . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as
president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who
stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five
candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international
sports, keeping the presidency in European hands.
Glen Rice
Jersey . The commissioners office said Friday that Sears tested positive
for metabolites of Methandienone. Sears will be 23 in March. He signed with the
Braves in June 2013 out of Arizona Christian, an NAIA school, and is on the
roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves.
http://www.officialhornetsonline.us/frank-kaminsky-hornets-jersey/ . The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a
four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature
a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of
bases-clearing hits.CLEVELAND -- Andrew Wiggins will sign his rookie contract
with the Cavaliers. Its still not clear if hell play for them. A person familiar
with the negotiations says the Cavs will sign the No. 1 overall pick to his
deal, an agreement that would prevent any potential trade involving the small
forward from being completed for 30 days. The Minnesota Timberwolves and
Cavaliers have been discussing a potential deal that would send All-Star forward
Kevin Love to the Cavaliers for Wigging, Anthony Bennett and other pieces. The
person familiar with the talks says Wiggins will sign with Cleveland as early as
Wednesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of
anonymity because the team is not commenting on its plans. The Cavs and
Timberwolves have had ongoing discussions about a trade for Love since before
Cleveland selected Wiggins first in May. The Timberwolves have always insisted
that Wiggins be involved in any package, a stipulation the Cavaliers initially
resisted. To help in their pursuit of Love, the Cavs traded guard Carrick Felix
to Utah on Tuesday for three players with non-guaranteed contracts. Cleveland
acquired guard John Lucas III and forwards Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy from
the Jazz in exchange for Felix, a second-round draft pick and cash
considerations. The trade will allow the Cavs to clear $3.3 million in salary
cap space, room to potentially sign Love or other players. Wiggins inclusion in
any deal has been a sticking point for the Cavs. Last week, two people familiar
with the discussions said the team was not willing to include Wiggins in a deal.
But as talks continued this week, the Cavaliers have softened their stance on
including Wiggins, who played well during the teams summer league in Las Vegas,
to try and get superstar LeBron James another veteran All-Star teammate. The
Cavs have considered acquiring Love and teaming him with James, who recently
annnounced he was returning to Cleveland and signed a two-year, $42.
Custom Hornets
Jersey. 1 million deal with the team. With Love, James and All-Star point
guard, Cleveland would have a "Big 3" comparable to what Miami had in James and
All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Timberwolves have also had discussions
with the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, among other
teams, in recent weeks as they entertain offers for Love, who can opt out of his
contract next summer and has told Minnesota he wants to play for a contender.
Signing Wiggins to a contract wouldnt necessarily prevent a trade from
eventually happening. Under league rules, Wiggins cannot be officially traded
for 30 days after he signs. But the Timberwolves and Cavaliers could come to
some sort of agreement before that end date and then execute the trade after the
window closes. Signing Wiggins could make a trade easier to complete. League
rules require teams that are at or over the salary cap to exchange packages of
similar dollar values when they make trades. Before Wiggins signs a deal, he has
a contract of $0, so his inclusion does not help the Cavaliers get closer to the
$15.7 million value they would receive with Loves contract. But when he does
sign, Wiggins will have a value of around $5.5 million, which would get the
Cavaliers a big step closer to the 80 per cent of Loves contract that they need
to reach to make any deal conform to league rules. Having to wait that long to
finalize a deal does complicate the negotiating process, with both teams leery
of the other backing out during that monthlong moratorium. If the Timberwolves
and Cavaliers do come to an agreement, the trade could evolve into a three-team
deal. The Wolves have been searching for another team to bring another
established, veteran player to the package while potentially moving guard J.J.
Barea or other contracts to create room for the incoming players.
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