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Originally Posted by Adult Lounge - Brad
I think the problem is that we are focusing on the 2010 games so funding goes there right now.
Also, the US does so well because they give out sports scholarships. If we did that in Canada it would turn the sports programs around a lot. I was a really good swimmer in HS and then in University I stopped because the competition was not as good and I knew I wouldn't make it to the Olympics. In the US these kids are encouraged to be in the pool morning and afternoon because they need to train hard to compete. In Canada that's not the case. Plus the schools here don't care that much about competing outside of football.
So my opinion is that yes we need to support the athletes, but that should start right out of High School which is where you are going to find the most of the talent. Universities here should be able to give out athletic scholarships that way the schools (which already have good facilities and government funding) can pay to train these people for most of the year.
Canada has such a good hockey program because we develop and challenge players from a young age. In amateur sport it is not the same. we are expected to do it for fun with no expectation that you will go anywhere with it.
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Excellent post, especially so that last part about our hockey program.
Fact is Canada doesn't fund our olympic athletes like the US or China does theirs. We don't give anyone a $25K cash award for winning gold, and according to one or two of our older athletes at these games they sometimes even get their funding pulled completely due to their age.
I would say Canadians need to start donating to athletic associations more, but then you think of all the other causes like finding cures and feeding homeless children etc and people always find something more important to throw their donation money at.
Yet when we do win the odd medal it becomes a huge deal to Canada, probably because it's so rare. But the other thing I want to say is that the games have only been on for what, 4 days? It ain't over yet, we could win a few medals yet. If not, that's the way it goes, and at least our athletes went, did their best, and competed with honor.
I'm enjoying watching these Olympics regardless of our medal count. Some of you saying the Olympics are a waste of time are just plain nuts. The world needs more of this friendly spirit of competition, not less. A world without sport is a world that would be the huge waste of time. Get a clue.