Don't Knock the "Own the Podium" Program BBC

I listen to a lot of CBC talk radio on my way to and from work, and today when I was driving home they were talking about the "Own the Podium" program that Canada started 5 years ago. The program was designed to support our Canadian athletes by funding their training and world cup races.
"It Takes A Nation To Win A Medal

One athlete can't win a medal without help. Put your Game Face on and show your support for the Canadian Olympic Team. Cheer on our athletes as they go for gold in Vancouver.

www.ownthepodium2010.com/
this program has a ton of sponsors plus sales of items went towards this program. If you bought any "red mittens" you would have helped support this program.

It caught my attention today when reports coming from BBC news in London were blaming this Canadian program for the death of Georgian Luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili.There were blaming the Own the Podium program for allowing Canadian Luges more practice time on the track. They were saying that Canadians were alowed more practivce time, where international athlets had less training time on the track. The BBC were stating that if the Canadians were not hogging all the ice time this never would have happened.
This program has nothing to do with practice time!!! and the IOC is the one that controls practice time on the tracks and said that Canadians were being fare. What is it goin g to be like in 2012 when the games are in London, are they going to give equal training time to all althlets??? I'm guessing not! And how bold to make that statement that we are to blame, when really the program is about funding our athlets not access to venues! Booooo BBC!!!

And it's not like our athlets make that much money out of this porgram... If a Canadain wins Gold they get $20,000.00 compaired to some countries that's very low. In Korea if you win a gold you get a paid salery for life!!!!

My boss Parky is writting an Olympic Blog and he wrote some interesting things about this "Own the Podium" program..


"I read a great article today discussing how the Canadian mens hockey team arrived today into the athletes village in Vancouver. They were discussing how integrated the big NHL stars were in Torino in 2006 and how they were as star struck of the ama teur athletes as they were of them. The own the podium program invested 117 million dollars spread out over 5 years to the entire Canadian contingent of athletes in the 2010 games. The Canadian mens hockey team of 23 players will make 123 million in salaries this year alone. Our Canadian athletes that are bringing such patriotic pride to all of us watching them are doing it on their own dime and continually struggle to make it to World Cup events and train and they do it all for that one chance to hear the roar of the crowds as they medal on the world stage. We are inspired, energized and united by watching these performances and I hope our government and the athletes sponsors continue to allow these amateur athletes to keep doing what they do and sustain their dedication to sport."

So on the eve of us winning our first ever gold medle I say "back off BB C" and gain some tack on who you are blamming and for what!!!