Ahead of the 2030 Winter Olympics, the Canadian Government is funneling up to CAD $33.6 million into winter sports venues in a bid that officials say will support athletes and strengthen the country’s ability to host major events.
The investment, made through a federal fund, will go towards the rehabilitation and modernization of the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary campus, which hosted speed skating at the 1998 Winter Games.
In total, the Olympic Oval is set for a $52-million contribution split between the federal and provincial governments.
Another beneficiary, the Winsport halfpipe at the Canada Olympic Park, is set for upgrades, as is the Nakiska National Ski Cross Training Centre, where snowmaking and security measure improvements are planned.
The Canada Snowboard National Training Centre Network project is earmarked for up to CAD $4 million. In comparison, the National Alpine Ski Training Centre Network project is set to receive up to $3.6 million, according to a release.
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Jeff Thompson, a senior vice president with Alpine Canada, said in the release that the investments “will strengthen the development pathway, creating lasting benefits for athletes and coaches at every level.”
“We’re grateful to the Government of Canada and all of our partners for believing in the future of our sport and helping create an environment where more athletes can chase their dreams right here in Canada,” said Dustin Heise, the CEO of Canada Snowboard.
Along with those investments, Secretary of State Adam van Koeverden announced a CAD $3 million annual increase to the Athlete Assistance Program, bringing the program’s annual total funding to CAD $43 million.
The Athlete Assistance Program, or AAP, provides financial assistance to Canadian athletes and offers monthly training and living allowances.
“In a country as great as Canada, with record-breaking athletes who proudly wear the maple leaf, we need to make sure they have more support to focus on their performance and achieve their goals,” said van Koeverden in the release.
“This investment will help more athletes train, compete and succeed, while strengthening our sport system for the future,” he continued.
As for the Winter Olympics, Canada already has historically had a strong, but not dominant, team, taking home 21 medals at the latest Games in Italy, 20 less than the overall leader, Norway, which nabbed 41.
At the Beijing Games, Canada won 26 medals, performing fourth best among the countries that competed.
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