National Roundtables on Future High Performance Sport Funding

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

April 14, 2004

Chair:

The Honourable Stan Keyes
Minister of State (Sport)

Main Themes

• Ongoing support and resources
• Long-term development and monitoring
• World class coaching
• Access to high performance facilities
• Access to sport science and research
• Long-term investment in sport system
• Ability to train full-time without having to worry about supporting their basic needs
• Ability to train with other high performance/world class athletes or as a team
• Focus on success attained by National Sport Organizations
• Support for coaching development
• Consider carding for coaches
• Building new and enhancing existing training facilities
• Training groups for targetted athletes and sports
• Increased investment into development programs
• Increase the opportunity for athletes to compete at the international level
• Collaborate on resources, planning, and monitoring
• Raise the profile of amateur sport in Canada
• Develop a long-term plan for funding

Other Comments

• There was general consensus towards the idea of targeting, however, who to target and how to target was not discussed in further detail.
• Travel cost and lack of facilities were repeatedly mentioned as barriers to high performance sport in Newfoundland .
• A specific recommendation on increasing support through the Athletes Assistance Program was put forward and supported by all participants. It was recommended that the Senior Card monthly stipend be increased to $2000 per month, and the Development Card monthly stipend be increased to $900 per month. It was also recommended that more cards be made available.
• It was agreed that athletes need more support at the development and La Relève levels. Participants agreed that receiving increased support once an athlete made it to the podium was not as important as the support required to get to the podium.