By Brian Hickey
While other nations plead with the International Olympic Committee for the opportunity to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Canadians continue to turn Toronto’s bid into a debate over traffic, smog and urban development.
The most recent controversial decision features the revival of Toronto’s waterfront to create the Olympic Stadium and Village. This sounds great for the citizens of Toronto, but the rest of Canada is left wondering whether the Olympics are a celebration of construction companies or amateur athletes?
Canada might need this event for several legitimate development reasons, but the bottom line is that being the host to the Olympic Games might actually save our drowning sports programs.
It’s no coincidence that Australia went from medal scrounger in 1988 with 14 medals to a medal powerhouse in 2000 with 58 medals.
Simply put, Olympic fever in Australia meant more government funding to athletes, which in turn paid off significantly with their spectacular performance. The host nation undoubtedly has the pressure of producing a respectable performance.
The public is often quick to criticize our athletes’ performances, but quite often they are unaware of the enormous sacrifices these men and women make to get to the top.
Lack of funding is not only hurting upcoming Olympic athletes, but also elite athletes desperately trying to remain on top of their game. It’s no wonder that Canadian athletes are the biggest supporters of the Olympic bid.
A prime example is Ottawa resident and 1996 gold medal winner Glenroy Gilbert. Pre-Olympics reports from Sydney last year revealed that Gilbert was forced to cash in $10,000 worth of his own RRSP’s so he could train in ideal conditions in Texas with Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin.
Gilbert was also a victim of sponsorship withdrawal, after many sponsors deserted the Canadian sprinters within two years of their gold medal performance.
It’s a sad turn of events when you consider that Canadian athletes might only reach their potential if we are granted the Games.
The Canadian government’s lack of funding and interest in sports has even turned athletes away from Canada when they retire from amateur sports and turn pro.
Lennox Lewis won a boxing gold medal for Canada in 1988, and relocated his pro career to Great Britain.
Lewis, now a world heavyweight-boxing champion, would never have been afforded the same possibilities and promotion he needed to turn pro in Canada.
Amateur athletes are also paying for the negative public perception of sports generated by greedy professional athletes.
Toronto could easily develop into a national training centre for amateur athletes much like Calgary did after hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Canada needs the Olympic Games in 2008 because without them the amateur ranks of sport in this country are doomed. Sadly enough, without the Olympic Games, why else would the government focus more of their attention on amateur sport?