Question Period Note: Preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Canadians are inspired by their country’s athletic performances at the international level. The Government of Canada supports that belief by contributing to athlete success through its high performance sport investments and policies.

• The Government of Canada is committed to investing in the current and next generation of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes so that they may perform at their best.
• In collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and National Sport Organizations, we are not only working to ensure that athletes are ready for the Tokyo Games, but that we continue to develop world-class athletes for years to come.
• As the single largest investor in the Canadian sport system, our Government is proud to support our athletes and the pride they bring to Canada.

• Sport Canada is helping prepare Canadian athletes for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond by working to advance Canada’s high performance sport system through the following programs and initiatives:
o Athlete Assistance Program (AAP)
o Enhanced Excellence funding (via Own the Podium recommendations)
o Next Generation Initiative (via Own the Podium recommendations)
o Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN)
• The AAP, supported by a $33 million budget, provides direct financial assistance to Canadian high-performance athletes.
• Enhanced Excellence Funding
o This initiative “targets” athletes and/or teams that have a high probability of attaining Olympic and Paralympic medal performance results, and recommending them for focused support and funding to attain those results.
o Funds from a combination of partners, notably the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, are allocated towards sports deemed to have podium-potential athletes for the next Olympic or Paralympic Games.
o Enhanced excellence funding of $64 million builds on the core sport funding provided to National Sport Organizations and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN).
• Next Generation Initiative
o The Next Generation Initiative (NGI) is designed to develop the next cohort of Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic medalists and focuses on supporting athletes who are five to eight years away from potentially medaling at an Olympic or Paralympic Games.
o The NGI is based on three components: quality coaching, optimal daily training regime (including daily training environment and competition experiences), and appropriate sport science and sport medicine support.
o The NGI invests $5 million per year and is conditional on matching private sector funds, for a total investment of $10 million per year.
• Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN)
o The COPSIN was created to provide a world-leading, multi-sport daily training environment for athletes, coaches and practitioners through expert leadership, services and programs.
o Currently there are four Canadian Sport Institutes (CSIs) and three Canadian Sport Centres (CSCs) situated at locations across the country.
o CSIs are co-located with high performance-focused, facility-based daily training environments that have a critical mass of high performance athletes and training groups, while CSCs may only provide virtual or off-site services.

None