Paul Devillers Announces Funding of $7 Million for 3rd Iaaf World Youth Championships in Athletics in Sherbrooke in 2003
SHERBROOKE, March 18, 2002 -- Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Paul DeVillers today announced funding of $7 million from the Government of Canada for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) 3rd World Youth Championships, to be held in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 2003. Mr. DeVillers was accompanied by three of the people who led Sherbrooke's bid for the Championships: Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault, Université de Sherbrooke Rector Bruno-Marie Béchard and Athletics Canada President Jean-Guy Ouellette."This investment will help Eastern Canada create international-standard facilities," said Mr. DeVillers. "What will be built in Sherbrooke is an unprecedented legacy for all Canadians. Athletes and others will have access to one of the most sophisticated centres, enabling them to achieve their sport objectives."
The funding is being provided under the federal Policy for hosting International Sport Events, and includes infrastructure and operational costs for the Championships ($6.2 million), as well as federal costs for essential services, promotion, visibility, and coordination by the Government of Canada ($800,000) during the Championships.
The 3rd IAAF World Youth Championships will be held July 2 to 6, 2003, on the Université de Sherbrooke campus in Sherbrooke. Over 2000 athletes aged 15 to 17 from 165 countries will participate in 39 athletics events. Ensuring the smooth running of the Championships will be 2000 volunteers and 500 officials.
Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Mario Tremblay
Press Secretary
for the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport )
(819) 994-9909
Backgrounder
3rd IAAF World Youth Championships
--In June 2001, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) chose Sherbrooke as the site for the 3rd World Youth Championships staged by the IAAF and Athletics Canada. The Championships will be held in a new international-standard stadium with a capacity of around 10,000 spectators on the Université de Sherbrooke campus, July 2 to 6, 2003.
--Approximately 400 representatives of print and broadcast media will cover the Championships. CBC will provide international television coverage and 8 hours of live national coverage. Radio-Canada will be responsible for French-language television coverage.
--On May 24, 2001, the Honourable Denis Coderre, then Secretary of State (Amateur Sport), announced the intention of the Government of Canada to provide financial support for the World Youth Championships in Athletics. Federal funding for this major competition will help offer an extraordinary opportunity to our younger athletes; it will also help create an important legacy for the community.
--The Government of Canada's financial contribution of $6.2 million will enable the Sherbrooke organizing committee to cover operating costs associated with staging the 3rd IAAF World Youth Championships, and to complete construction of the stadium and supporting facilities for the Championships.
--The Government of Canada is participating in preparations for the 3rd IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics in Sherbrooke in 2003 under the federal Policy for hosting International Sport Events. The funding program for such events is managed by Sport Canada in the Department of Canadian Heritage. Details of the Policy are posted on the Sport Canada Web site: www.pch.gc.ca/sportcanada
--This project follows the successful hosting of the World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton in 2001. The Government of Canada provided $40 million in funding for that event.
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