Medal Standings by population ...

[CalgaryFan1988]

[drewboy12]

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_.../olympics.aspx

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'd be willing for my taxes to go up by $10 bucks if it goes to athlete development. 30 million x $10 bucks is a lot of money to work with. On your tax forms, they should have an optional section, where you can give some money to certain causes. Some things I'm willing to chip in more than my share. As long as none of it goes to the IOC. Or hockey for that matter (I'd rather they gave other sports a boost).

I'm actually surprised there aren't any charity drives or public fundraisers to help these athletes out. You think people would be willing to help that cause.

I was thinking the same thing reading this thread. Increase public money to fund sports and a segment of the taxpayers will get their nose out of joint, so I think there's a place for a charitable foundation to supplement what money the Feds already commit.

If I can get a tax write-off in the process I'd gladly set up a recurring donation.

[MoneyGuy]

Is there an updated chart?

What is the website for this information in the chart in the first post?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

Thing is, I don't pay taxes!

If you completely ignore both sales taxes in your province.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As much as I do support better funding for athetic programs, at some point, the athlete themselves always have to sacrifice for their craft.

OTOH, the US considers Olympic medals as taxable income. Michael Phelps paid $70k in taxes on his gold medals in 2008.

I'm sure amateur athletes like labron James, Roger federer, Serena Williams, etc all suffer madly for their craft.......I disagree with pro athletes in the Olympics (yes, hockey too)

[TurnedTheCorner]

I hate labron James almost as much as Jarmoe Iginla.

[Devils'Advocate]

Australia spends federally PER YEAR to Olympic athletes is equal to what Canada spent in the FIVE YEARS TOTAL leading up to Vancouver on our Winter Sports athletes (Australia spends $171 million per year on Olympic athletics; we spent $170 million on our Winter athletes for Vancouver between 2005 and 2010). And as you will see below, while we increased our spending, Australia is increasing MORE.

Someone here suggested that our Olympians should EXPECT to live in poverty - they are sacrificing for their "art". Well, why should our Olympians have to live with their parents, work regular jobs, spend absolutely no time with their families because what time they don't spend working they spend training... while the Australian athletes get the best coaching, time at the best facilities, money for rent and food and only need to work part time. And you can see by the medal standings that that pays off.

"We're at a budget of about $70 million annually at this point for both summer and winter," Baumann said. "The funding has increased significantly. Kudos to the government." Own The Podium's money comes from Sport Canada, the federal government arm that oversees sport. Sport Canada also provides money for Canadian cities to host international events, and also gives elite athletes a monthly stipend of up to $1,500 per month to help cover living and training expenses. All in, the Canadian government spends between $165 million to $175 million a year on sport, Baumann estimates. By comparison, the Australian government committed in December to spend $1.2 billion on sport over the next four years. "Are we at the level of the United Kingdom and Australia? Definitely not," Baumann said. "I still think we're behind and not yet at that G8 status where we need to be."

-=-=-=-=-

However, Australia is starting to wonder if the money is worth the investment. There has been MODERATE increase in sports participation due to their athletic success:
http://theconversation.edu.au/olympi...ting-life-7531
It has done very little to attract new spectators to Olympic sports:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/08/04...hey-failed-us/

Personally, I love seeing these athletes perform and would be willing to pay my $10/year that was suggested earlier to put our athletes at even par with Australia. But it would be purely for entertainment purposes. Other than national pride, which should be about far, far more than athletics, it seems that the Olympics do not have the trickle down benefits that the Australian politicians suggested would come with the increased funding.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

OTOH, the US considers Olympic medals as taxable income. Michael Phelps paid $70k in taxes on his gold medals in 2008.

He would have paid taxes on the money he received from the US Olympic Committee for winning the medals he did, not just on the medals themselves. He won 8 gold medals, and received $25,000 per medal.

To pay $70,000 on $200,000, he would have to be in the highest federal tax bracket (35%), which would mean he had a taxable income over $357,700 in 2008. With endorsements and sponsorships, he probably was over that amount.

At this point, he's a professional athlete. There's no reason he shouldn't pay his share of taxes.


For a lower-profile, struggling to make ends meet, athlete, they'd be able to write off their travel and training expenses and would likely pay little or no tax on their medal money.

Snopes on Olympic taxes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/olympics.asp

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

If you completely ignore both sales taxes in your province.

That and the "Flatlander" comment.. I've had enough! Screw it, I'm moving to Calgary.

[Devils'Advocate]

How far does that go?

I think I would prefer my money go towards education rather than Ottawa Senators tickets.

I see giving to Olympic athletes as part of my "entertainment" budget and I think the government run "Own the Podium" is working as our medal counts have soared and would be even higher if we gave more than $1500 per month. Perhaps you can say that entertainment shouldn't be in the hands of the federal government, but there is a minister of state for Sports for a reason.

Yes, I know you can donate to OTP and maybe we can say that it shouldn't be coming from tax dollars but just individual donations. I say I'd give my $10. Perhaps you say not. However, most people wouldn't give their $10 and then scream that our athletes aren't winning anything. As with most cases people demand results, but don't want to pay for them.

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

How far does that go?

I think I would prefer my money go towards education rather than Ottawa Senators tickets.

Don't see how tax money would be used towards Ottawa Senators tickets, unless the team was in some sort of financial trouble and needed the government's support ie. buying tickets to sell out the arena.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'd be willing for my taxes to go up by $10 bucks if it goes to athlete development. 30 million x $10 bucks is a lot of money to work with. On your tax forms, they should have an optional section, where you can give some money to certain causes. Some things I'm willing to chip in more than my share. As long as none of it goes to the IOC. Or hockey for that matter (I'd rather they gave other sports a boost).

I'm actually surprised there aren't any charity drives or public fundraisers to help these athletes out. You think people would be willing to help that cause.

Such an organization does exist! http://www.canadianathletesnow.ca

What is the Canadian Athletes Now Fund?
Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund) is a not for profit organization devoted solely to raising funds and awareness for Canadian athletes. We have created a vehicle that connects Canadians to our athlete's journey and their success. CAN Fund is the only organization in Canada that with each donation, you find out the name of the athlete you have directly supported and receive a tax receipt. We provide our athletes with the opportunity to focus on success instead of focusing on unnecessary financial hurdles. Donations go directly to Canadian athletes to support their training, coaching, nutrition, team fees, travel and basic living expenses.

[GP_Matt]

Our company isn't too big, but we sponsor two athletes for the winter Olympics all the time. We have been giving the athletes a four year commitment leading up to each games.

It wasn't a hard sell for us and as a side benefit, the athletes are often invited to corporate functions we haven't sponsored a medal winner yet, but it would be pretty cool if we did.

Perhaps afewCP members should suggest the same for their company. I don't know how many athletes we have,but I am sure there are far more companies.

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

Our company isn't too big, but we sponsor two athletes for the winter Olympics all the time. We have been giving the athletes a four year commitment leading up to each games.

It wasn't a hard sell for us and as a side benefit, the athletes are often invited to corporate functions we haven't sponsored a medal winner yet, but it would be pretty cool if we did.

Perhaps afewCP members should suggest the same for their company. I don't know how many athletes we have,but I am sure there are far more companies.

Is there an olympic event for snowplowing across the ice? Damn my lanky knees.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

Don't see how tax money would be used towards Ottawa Senators tickets, unless the team was in some sort of financial trouble and needed the government's support ie. buying tickets to sell out the arena.

Why limit the discussion to tax money? It's a question of "where do I want my money to go?" period.

If the discussion is "people should not be forced to pay for Olympic athletes, but should be forced by law to pay for MRI machines" you would get some traction with me. But with the last few Olympics each inevitable thread about funding someone suggests having an option on our tax forms to add extra money for some federally funded projects that we would like to give more money towards.

And if that were the case, and the two options were:
(A) Olympic athlete funding
(B) New MRI machines

Would you pick A, B or give up going to one NHL hockey game and put money for both?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-
BTW for those that DO want to give a bit out of their own wallet, you can donate to OTP here:
https://secure.olympicfoundation.ca/...undation.ca%2f

[saskflames69]

I don't live anywhere near a city with an NHL franchise, I don't attend NHL games.

[Devils'Advocate]

*sigh* That was simply an example.

My point was that if you don't think athlete funding should come from your tax dollars because tax dollars should be spent on more important things.... then perhaps athlete funding could come from your entertainment budget. Watching Simon Whitfield's effort to win the silver medal last Olympics means far more to me than watching "Cowboys vs Aliens" at the theatre. The former cost nothing, the latter cost $10. Perhaps I could have skipped the latter and gave the money to OTP.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

I was thinking the same thing reading this thread. Increase public money to fund sports and a segment of the taxpayers will get their nose out of joint, so I think there's a place for a charitable foundation to supplement what money the Feds already commit.

If I can get a tax write-off in the process I'd gladly set up a recurring donation.

Originally Posted by Frankster

Such an organization does exist! http://www.canadianathletesnow.ca

What is the Canadian Athletes Now Fund?
Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund) is a not for profit organization devoted solely to raising funds and awareness for Canadian athletes. We have created a vehicle that connects Canadians to our athlete's journey and their success. CAN Fund is the only organization in Canada that with each donation, you find out the name of the athlete you have directly supported and receive a tax receipt. We provide our athletes with the opportunity to focus on success instead of focusing on unnecessary financial hurdles. Donations go directly to Canadian athletes to support their training, coaching, nutrition, team fees, travel and basic living expenses.

Thanks for the link, Frankster. I made good on my earlier post and set up a recurring donation. Hopefully the taxes I pay take care of that MRI machine...

[Devils'Advocate]

What I like about "Canadian Athletes Now" vs donating to "Own the Podium" is that CAN will give to the athletes that make the Olympics, but are not really contenders. Who's to say they won't be contenders 4 or 8 years from now? OTP was meant to increase our medal count, which meant focusing on the really elite of their sport, which left the "qualifiers but not contenders" to fend for themselves. Which is where CAN has stepped up to the plate.