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Own the Podium reward: Inspiration for a new generation

Feb. 14, 2011   ♦ Photo: Brady Leman and Chris Del Bosco put on their "role model" caps at a Collingwood school (Gordie Bowles)

By Mark Kristofic, S-Media

There was some discussion a year ago after the Olympics whether or not Own the Podium really worked.

On the skiing side, with freestyle scoring two medals, ski cross landing one medal and both alpine and cross-country coming up short, pundits were humming and hawing that the results were OK, but certainly well short of expectations. Was the investment worth it? Do dollars invested directly correlate with results?

The reality is that the Olympics are a one-shot deal, with far too many variables to directly measure the effectiveness of a complex and detailed program. Sort of like measuring the effectiveness of a basketball team with one free-throw. But one year later, all you need to do is take a peek at the sports headlines to determine whether or not the Own the Podium investment worked.

Since the flame went out last Feb. 28, Canada has produced an alpine crystal globe winner; alpine downhill world champion; men’s ski cross world champion; women’s ski cross world champion and silver medallist; women’s moguls world champion and bronze medallist; men’s moguls World Championships silver and bronze medallists; men’s aerials world champion; women's dual moguls world champion and silver medallist; and men’s dual moguls world champion and silver medallist.

I’m out of breath just rattling these off! Heck, even men’s cross-country, which five years ago was non-existent, jumped into the fray with some World Cup hardware last month.

Are there still any questions as to whether or not Own the Podium worked?

The 2010-11 Own the Podium investment in winter sport is $18,906,517 (a nice round number). Now here is my crazy idea: We should triple it, then do the same for summer sport.

Last week I was lucky to be part of a program that saw our three Canadian ski cross world champion medallists and their teammates visit local schools here in Collingwood and talk to more than 4,000 kids about what it takes to be a world-class athlete. The effect astounded me. First hand I was able to witness what an incredible influence our athletes can have on our kids. Now imagine 30 world champions doing the same for 4 million kids. The inspiration for healthy and active living would pay massive dividends in our health care system.

But to have world champions, you need world-class funding. Triple Own the Podium funding. The numbers might sound big, but in the world of government big spending and considering the direct benefit to the health care system, our tax dollars have paid a lot more for a lot less. S-Magazine