Posted: April 27, 2007

Sport: McGuinty Government Invests $1.2 Million In High-Performance Athletes

Funds Will Provide Enhanced Performance Support For Athletes TORONTO, April 26 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is providing $1.2 million to the Canadian Sport Centre-Ontario for a performance enhancement program that will provide Ontario's high-performance athletes with increased access to sport science and medicine services, Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson announced today at the opening of the Centre's new sport science facility. "The Ontario government is committed to providing our high-performance athletes with the network of support that offers them leadership and sport science expertise to enhance their performance," said Watson. "Amateur athletes who reach the podium put the importance of active, healthy living in the spotlight and are an inspiration to all Ontarians." This funding is in addition to $538,000 provided to the Canadian Sport Centre-Ontario (CSCO) last year through the Quest for Gold Program for enhanced coaching initiatives. The CSCO's Performance Enhancement Program is a high-performance support program that includes the Centre's new sport science facility, located in Toronto, and the development of four Performance Enhancement Teams. Each team consists of two sport science professionals and a coach from up to three sports working collaboratively. A total of 11 sports are targeted with this initiative. The funds will also help develop Ontario Sport Review Panels to assist Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) evaluate and improve their high-performance programs, provide funds to implement the Long-Term Athlete Development model and support web-conferencing services to deliver National Coaching Institute training classes across the province. "With this investment in essential support services for our high-performance athletes, the Ontario government is providing an important building block for athlete development," said Doug Hamilton, Chair of the Canada Sport Centre-Ontario. "Sport science services can make the difference between an athlete finishing on or off the podium." The McGuinty government will be honouring the outstanding performances of Ontario's athletes at the Ontario Sport Awards tonight in Toronto. The Ministry of Health Promotion was established to improve and deliver programs that contribute to healthy living and wellness in Ontario. Key priority areas include Ontario's smoke-free strategy, healthy eating, active living, injury prevention and mental health promotion.