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Slava · 08-13-2008, 01:14 PM

I don't think it has come up in the thread yet, but Canada is doing something about this. Alex Baumann has come back to Canada to basically run a summer games version of the Winter "Own the Podium" program.

Canadian atheletes are now being paid for their medals as well ($20k for gold and $15k for silver IIRC). So far it hasn't cost a lot, but at the same time the incentives are there.

I too get very tired of watching failure after failure. The fact is that the funding is starting to come through...but it will take at least 4 years for that to matter. You can't cut a guy a cheque today and expect that in six months they are challenging for gold medals.

There are still a lot of medal hopefuls to come, and I just can't wait to see our first gold!

Here is the interview with Baumann: http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sport...06_83881_83881

08-13-2008, 01:14 PM	#217
Slava Franchise Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Exp:	I don't think it has come up in the thread yet, but Canada is doing something about this. Alex Baumann has come back to Canada to basically run a summer games version of the Winter "Own the Podium" program. Canadian atheletes are now being paid for their medals as well ($20k for gold and $15k for silver IIRC). So far it hasn't cost a lot, but at the same time the incentives are there. I too get very tired of watching failure after failure. The fact is that the funding is starting to come through...but it will take at least 4 years for that to matter. You can't cut a guy a cheque today and expect that in six months they are challenging for gold medals. There are still a lot of medal hopefuls to come, and I just can't wait to see our first gold! Here is the interview with Baumann: http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sport...06_83881_83881 Last edited by Slava; 08-13-2008 at 01:15 PM. Reason: Added article.