Own The Podium Controversy — Chill Out
| 2/24/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
Five years ago Canada; as in the Canadian Olympic Committee, sports federations and the government took a pretty bold and overdue move. They put together a group known as “Own the Podium” with the goal to provide the training, support and technology to our top athletes with the stated goal of topping the medal count at the 2010 Olympics.
I was rather amused at the premise that Canada would own the podium in 2010 when we have taken far too long to pour the resources into our sports programs from which our Olympian’s emerge. Other countries, like the United States, Russia and China have made no bones about pouring millions into the development of their elite athletes. Why shouldn’t Canada?
Some criticize the goal of owning the podium as arrogance on Canada’s part, as setting unrealistic goals, putting to much pressure on our athletes etc. Chill out people. The fact is if you don’t set the bar as high as you dare to reach, you will never reach the goal. There is nothing unrealistic about the goals the program sets, Canadian athletes throughout the history of the games have turned in amazing performances, there is no reason why they shouldn’t receive the support of the nation they so proudly represent.
As for pressure on the athletes, I don’t believe anyone or anything can put as much pressure on the athletes as they do on themselves. They do what they do because they are driven to be the best at what they do. When our young skater breaks down in tears at a press conference after turning in a fourth place finish she is perceiving that she’s let her country down because she believes she let herself down. She’s beating herself up and how many of us haven’t done the same for a lot less?
When Chris Del Bosco could have settled for a bronze he saw his opportunity to strike for silver and made the move. It cost him the bronze but he wouldn’t have been satisfied knowing he could have taken the chance and finished higher. No one yelled at him to make the move, he pushed himself because that is who he is.
If striving to be the best and being backed up by your country, the country you will represent, is arrogance, then let’s wear that with pride. We join a lot of other countries with the same aspirations. They might not have been bold enough to give their program the name “Own the Podium” but they are doing exactly the same.
Canada has hosted two previous Olympic games and failed to capture even one gold. These games, so far, we’ve captured six and appear to be on track for a few more before the games end. I call that a success. What I call even more of a success, is watching the spectators and their unabashed pride in their country and their athletes. That doesn’t even take into account the millions who are watching from across the country.
The 2010 Olympic Games need to be remembered as the first games after Canada finally started providing the money and resources our athletes have deserved for many generations. The federal and provincial governments need to set a base of funding that will rise in response to corporate Canada stepping up to the plate with funds to continue the program. There should be no question about the funding being reduced, the only question should be, how high can Canada take it to support our young athletes?
They are among the Canadians who inspire our next and future generations to strive to be the best. When that happens, all Canadians win.
My only problem with the "Own the Podium" is that the goal was implausible for the amount of money that Canada was willing or able to be dedicated to the task. If you want to "Own the Podium," you have to spend the money, and to me it sounds like there was too much dedicated to reinforcing our existing strengths and not enough dedicated to developing new strengths.