Quote:
Originally Posted by Roughneck
It's the catch-22. Only way it will improve in other countries if there is a level for young athletes to aspire to, and providing a funding model for the national teams like the Olympics provides.
But that also means there is Olympic money available to Canada and the US to make their already strong programs, stronger, which keeps the gap wide.
I think as long as it remains a virtually no-extra cost event at the games they have no reason to take it out. For the hosts with the arenas it's more games to sell tickets to that justifies the cost. And it is the only real way a lot of these countries will fund programs and development at the lower levels.
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I just don’t see other countries spending any more or developing. Canada and the US just continue to spend more and ensure the gap never narrows. I know for a fact Russia spends nothing. 3-4 of them live in Calgary and play in our leagues. I work with one of them.