The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has urged the federal government to increase its financial support to national sport organizations, which it says are facing a crisis due to inflation, pandemic, and sunsetting funds. The COC said that without an extra C$104 million ($76.61 million) in annual funding, the sport system in Canada would suffer a substantial reduction in services and programs, and risk taking a step backwards.
The COC, along with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), submitted a joint budget request on Monday, based on a Deloitte study that assessed the financial situation and needs of the 61 national sport organizations (NSOs) in Canada. The study found that the NSOs have a funding gap of C$104 million, which is caused by three main factors:
- The inflation of 19 years since the last increase to sport funding in 2005 ($20 million).
- The sunsetting of issue-specific funding that supported initiatives such as safe sport, gender equity, and mental health ($57 million).
- The increased demands on NSOs from stakeholders such as athletes, coaches, officials, and governments ($27 million).
The COC said that the inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the sport funding, which has not kept pace with the rising costs of operating and delivering sport programs and services. The COC also said that the pandemic has disrupted and transformed the sport landscape, creating new challenges and opportunities for NSOs and athletes.
The impact and the risk
The COC said that the funding gap has had a negative impact on the quality and sustainability of the sport system in Canada, and that it poses a serious risk to the safety, inclusion, and performance of Canadian athletes and sport organizations. The COC said that the impact and the risk are evident in several areas, such as:
- The safety and well-being of athletes, who may face increased exposure to abuse, harassment, and discrimination, as well as reduced access to mental health support and medical care.
- The inclusion and diversity of sport, which may be compromised by the lack of resources and opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized groups, such as women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and newcomers.
- The performance and excellence of athletes, who may experience decreased competitiveness and results, as well as diminished motivation and confidence, due to the lack of adequate training, coaching, and competition.
- The development and growth of sport, which may be hindered by the loss of talent and participation, as well as the erosion of public trust and interest, due to the lack of quality and accessible sport programs and services.
The request and the rationale
The COC said that its request for an additional C$104 million in funding from the federal government is based on the need and the value of the sport system in Canada, and that it is aligned with the government’s priorities and commitments. The COC said that its request and its rationale are supported by several arguments, such as:
- The need to restore and enhance the core funding of NSOs, which are the backbone of the sport system in Canada, and which provide essential support and services to athletes, provincial federations, and clubs across the country.
- The need to sustain and expand the issue-specific funding of NSOs, which enable them to address and advance key issues and initiatives, such as safe sport, gender equity, community access, and mental health support.
- The need to adapt and respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by the pandemic, which has disrupted and transformed the sport landscape, and which has created new demands and expectations for NSOs and athletes.
- The value of investing in sport, which contributes to the health, well-being, and happiness of Canadians, as well as to the social, economic, and cultural development of Canada, and which showcases Canada’s identity, values, and achievements on the world stage.
The appeal and the vision
The COC said that it hopes that the federal government will recognize and support its request for an additional C$104 million in funding, and that it will work with it to ensure that the sport system in Canada receives the funding it deserves and needs. The COC said that it believes that Canadians deserve a sport system that is safe, inclusive, and barrier-free, and that is properly resourced and equipped to deliver quality and accessible sport programs and services, from playground to podium. The COC said that it envisions a sport system that is:
- Safe and respectful, where athletes and sport participants are protected from abuse, harassment, and discrimination, and where they are supported by a culture of ethics, integrity, and accountability.
- Inclusive and diverse, where sport reflects and embraces the diversity of Canada, and where sport provides opportunities and pathways for everyone, regardless of their background, identity, or ability.
- Performance and excellence, where athletes and sport organizations are empowered and enabled to pursue and achieve their goals and dreams, and where sport fosters a spirit of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
- Development and growth, where sport promotes and enhances the physical, mental, and social health and well-being of Canadians, and where sport contributes and adds value to the national and global community.
